After becoming almost synonymous with comedies, Dwayne Johnson will come back to the drama genre with “The Smashing Machine,” an upcoming A24 production. It will be the first film written and directed by Benny Safdie as a solo filmmaker.
Alongside his brother Josh, they are known for titles such as “Good Time” (2017), starring Robert Pattinson, and “Uncut Gems” (2019), starring Adam Sandler. Both films received positive reviews, as well as their directorial debut “Heaven Knows What” (2014).
“The Smashing Machine” stars Johnson (in an unrecognizable makeup) as former wrestler and mixed martial artist Mark Kerr. Here’s everything you need to know about this upcoming drama, such as the cast, release date and plot.
What is ‘The Smashing Machine’ about?
The movie will follow the life of the MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who struggled with addiction and his marriage while becoming an icon of the sport. It’s a similar project to another hit for the studio, “The Iron Claw,” which was released in 2023.
Johnson, who is also producing the film, told Variety that he was attracted to the project due to Safdie’s ability to “push the envelope when it comes to stories that are raw and real,” while also stating that he was “at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past.”
However, this won’t be the first time that the actor has to showcase his dramatic chops. Before his long career in family films and comedies, he had some interesting roles in films such as “Gridiron Gang.”
Who else is in the cast of ‘The Smashing Machine’?
Johnson will reunite with Emily Blunt, whom he worked with in “The Jungle Cruise.” She will play Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples. Blunt is coming fresh from her Oscar-nominated performance in “Oppenheimer,” and the rom-com “The Fall Guy,” in which she starred alongside Ryan Gosling.
Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
The rest of the cast includes Oleksandr Usyk and Ryan Bader as MMA fighters Igor Vovchanchyn and Mark Coleman, as well as Lyndsey Gavin as Elizabeth Coleman. So far, there’s no more cast members confirmed.
Is there an official release date for ‘The Smashing Machine’?
No, A24 hasn’t announced an official release date for the film.
