Dwayne Johnson steps into entirely new territory with “The Smashing Machine,” a biographical sports drama that chronicles the life of former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Written, directed, co-produced, and edited by Benny Safdie, the title also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples, with a supporting cast that includes Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk.
Shot across New Mexico, Tokyo, and Vancouver on 16mm and 70mm IMAX film, it marks the first A24 production to employ IMAX cameras, giving the movie an immersive, visceral visual style.
“The Smashing Machine” had its world premiere in competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival today, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion. The film has already garnered strong critical acclaim, with a 92% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling that Johnson’s dramatic leap has resonated with reviewers. While the picture’s exploration of Kerr’s personal and professional struggles is already drawing attention, Johnson’s own reflections on taking on this uncharacteristic dramatic role were a highlight at Venice.
Dwayne Johnson Gets Personal About His Career Shift
At the Venice Press Conference for “The Smashing Machine,” as informed by The Hollywood Reporter, Dwayne Johnson reflected on the pressures of being typecast in Hollywood. “The box office can be very loud and push an actor into a corner,” he said. “A lot of times it’s harder for us—or at least for me, sometimes—to know what you’re capable of when you’ve been pigeon-holed…. And sometimes it takes people who you love and you respect, like Emily and Benny, to say you can.”
Source: Victor Boyko/Getty Images
Johnson described the role of Mark Kerr as a transformation he had been “really hungry to do,” a chance to step beyond the action-hero persona that has defined his career.
He also highlighted the role of his longtime collaborator Emily Blunt, calling her his “best friend” and explaining that her encouragement was crucial in helping him take on such an uncharacteristic dramatic role. Johnson shared that Blunt recognized his potential for deeper, emotionally driven work and pushed him to embrace it, with director Benny Safdie supporting the leap.
In discussing the picture’s emotional core, Johnson emphasized that “The Smashing Machine” is about more than fighting. “Mark was the greatest fighter in the world at one point, but this film is not even really about fighting — it’s a love story,” he said between tears. The story centers on Mark’s relationship with Dawn, his passion for his craft, and the challenges he faced outside the ring, including a harrowing struggle with painkiller addiction.
