Latest news with #MarkKerr
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Fans all have same reaction to Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's 'unrecognisable' look in new film
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson looks unrecognizable in the new trailer for The Smashing Machine as fans of the Hollywood heavyweight are in awe of his acting skills The trailer for the latest film featuring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has been released - and the wrestler-turned-actor is almost unrecognisable. The Smashing Machine, co-starring Emily Blunt, tells the real-life story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr during the pinnacle of his career in 2000, as he grapples with addiction, love, friendship, and the brutal world of fighting. The story is set against the backdrop of the raw and unfiltered era of mixed martial arts, and Mark's relationship with Dawn, portrayed by Mary Poppins actress Emily Blunt. In the trailer, we hear Dwayne's character proclaim: "Winning is the best feeling there is. "It's 40,000 people in there cheering you on. There's no other high like it in the world." These lines encapsulate the central themes of the movie, which delves into Mark's addiction to painkillers. Sporting a full head of hair, The Rock undergoes a dramatic transformation for the film, directed by Benny Safdie. Mark Kerr, known in the fighting world as 'The Smashing Machine' due to his formidable and aggressive style, soared to fame in the late 90s and early 2000s, reports the Mirror US. A former collegiate wrestler who transitioned into an MMA powerhouse, Mark Kerr is celebrated as a two-time Heavyweight Tournament Champion. His compelling narrative was previously brought to light in a 2002 HBO documentary bearing the same title. Scheduled for an October 3 release, the A24 movie will feature Emily Blunt as Mark Kerr's partner, Dawn Staples. Also appearing will be big names like Ryan Bader, Oleksandr Usyk, and Bas Rutten. The biopic has been in development since 2019 following Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's production company Seven Bucks securing the rights to the tale. Dwayne himself is no stranger to the world of combat sports, originally stepping into the spotlight as a WWF (now WWE) wrestler back in 1996. Given the ferocity showcased in his portrayal of Mark Kerr in the film's trailer, there are whispers of potential accolades for the superstar - already a staple in the 'World's Richest Actors' rankings - when awards season approaches. Enthusiastic fan reactions to the recently unveiled trailer hint at a warm public reception, with anticipation building to see the former wrestling champ tackle a dramatic character. One excited fan wrote: "I'm actually really intrigued by this. Seeing Dwayne doing something more serious actually looked awesome. Excited for this." Another said: "It's a unique compliment for the Rock when no one recognizes him in a film. I'm glad he challenged himself for this role. He is phenomenal in this trailer and I can't wait to see it." Another user wrote: "This is the most vulnerable The Rock has been since Tooth Fairy," and another added: "25 years of starring in films and The Rock finally makes his acting debut! I'm just glad that Dwayne Johnson finally looks like not Dwayne Johnson in a movie ffs. Makeup and prosthetics aside, will the acting actually be good? I guess we'll only know after watching the movie." Another said: "THIS is what Dwayne needed. To branch out from being a bro's bro in movies. Perfect way to cast him too, this is one hell of a story and I really feel he is bringing in his A-Game to acting for once."
News18
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Who Is Mark Kerr? The MMA Legend Behind Dwayne Johnson's The Smashing Machine
Last Updated: The movie looks at Mark Kerr's personal and professional hardships. The Smashing Machine was his nickname as a UFC champion. Dwayne Johnson's upcoming biopic of UFC fighter Mark Kerr, The Smashing Machine, is expected to propel him to new heights. Johnson's remarkable makeover astounded fans and reviewers alike, prompting early Oscar buzz upon the trailer's release. The film focuses on Kerr's life and career. But who is the man behind this biography, Mark Kerr? Mark Kerr: Who Is This Man? Born on December 21, 1968, Mark Kerr has won the World Vale Tudo Championship tournament and the UFC Heavyweight Tournament twice. Because of his domination in the ring, Kerr, a towering figure in MMA, was known as 'The Smashing Machine." While attending Syracuse University, he won a wrestling title in 1992, weighing 190 pounds. In the 100 kg category, Kerr won a gold medal at the 1994 World Cup and a silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games during his international competitions after graduating from college. Kerr effectively retired from professional boxing after suffering a final defeat in 2009 and raising public concerns about his safety in the ring. He studied pharmaceutical sales after retirement and worked at a Toyota dealership until 2015. In 2019, he disclosed that he had been suffering from peripheral neuropathy since 2016, a nerve disorder that causes persistent discomfort and weakness. Following the release of the 2002 HBO documentary 'The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr," his story became the talk of the town. His career was not without its challenges and suffering, as all things have two sides. His addiction to painkillers to cope with the physical demands of MMA nearly wrecked him and his career, and substance misuse followed his ascent in the sport. Additionally, he and Dawn Staples, his ex-wife, had an unhappy relationship. His professional career as a fighter was ultimately impacted by the decline in his physical and mental well-being that resulted from these factors. The secret hardships and difficulties faced by an athlete behind the camera are brought to light by his story. The Smashing Machine: A Little About The Film For this upcoming project, Dwayne Johnson has changed his appearance to become a UFC and MMA fighter. The movie, written and directed by Benny Safdie, is scheduled for release on October 3. In addition, Emily Blunt plays Dawn Staples in the movie. Johnson's portrayal of a warrior battling addiction and personal issues signals a significant emotional leap for him and indicates a departure from his typical performances in Jumanji, Moana and the Fast and Furious film series. First Published:
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
State of the People Power Tour coming to Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The State of the People Power Tour is coming to Birmingham to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Children's Crusade. According to organizers, there will be a kickoff event at Carver Theatre at 10 a.m. Saturday with conversations and fireside chats. There will also be a community impact fair for residents to connect with wellness resources and meet organizations working to build Black political and economic power. The first 100 guests at the fair will receive free food vouchers. Mark Kerr came to Alabama to make a name for himself in the UFC. He left as 'The Smashing Machine' A people's march and rally will take place at noon through the Fourth Avenue Historic District. It will feature area students, union workers, faith leaders and national leaders such as NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. There will be hands-on workshops throughout the day. For more information and to register, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mailbag: The Rock's first 'The Smashing Machine' trailer dropped — what are realistic expectations for the Mark Kerr biopic?
What should we make of the first trailer for The Rock's upcoming 'The Smashing Machine' movie? What's the ideal lineup for UFC 317 on the so-called International Fight Week? And could the UFC heavyweight title possibly be any more disputed right now? All that and more in this week's mailbag. To ask a question of your own, hit up @benfowlkesmma or @ @ Any chance, based on the trailer that that Mark Kerr movie is about 7 outta 10? Advertisement It's unfair to draw too many firm conclusions based solely on a film's trailer. (That is the disclaimer I will offer before I go right ahead drawing conclusions based on the trailer.) But what confuses me is that it seems like what they're going for here is a dramatized copy of the original documentary. I just don't know why you'd do that. Or who it would even be for. If you haven't seen 'The Smashing Machine,' the 2002 John Hyams documentary, you should. It's an amazing documentary whether you're an MMA fan or not. Some of the scenes in the trailer seem to recreate, almost word-for-word, things we saw in that documentary. That seems like such a weird way to go about this because, well, we already have that movie. And it's a great movie. So why make it again — even giving it the exact same title — only with actors instead of the real people? Maybe the goal of showing us those scenes is to convince us that Dwayne Johnson is really embodying Mark Kerr here and not just doing the same character he does in every other movie. To that extent, it worked. He looks and sounds like Kerr, which is impressive. Advertisement But if you're going to make a movie about a movie, you need to add something. You can't just copy it and expect us to be impressed with how accurate everyone's portrayal is. At that point you're not making a movie so much as doing an impression of one. Maybe 'The Smashing Machine' (the 2025 version) will do more than that once we see the whole thing. But I'm keeping my expectations low for the moment. @WorldsWorstHero: What would be your ideal PPV main card for IFW this summer? The way things are shaping up, anything less than Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight title would be a major letdown in the main event. That's where we seem to be headed, which is good, because it's a monster fight and there's no better time to make it. You also have Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight title against Kai Kara-France in the co-main. That's the classic UFC move of throwing in a second title fight of lesser interest in order to bolster the lineup and add more gold to the poster. It's a fine fight. It'll probably be exciting for as long as it lasts but also probably won't move the needle for the casual fight fan. Advertisement I think the card could use at least one extra banger, whether it means anything for any specific division or not. Normally here's where the UFC would call up Justin Gaethje just to see what he's up to. And honestly? Having other lightweights on the main card (just in case something happens to one of the guys in the main event) isn't the absolute worst idea. @DOGYEE: DP and Max are booked. What happens to the remaining 155ers? Islam/Charles/JG/Hooker/Arman? Right now we have essentially two lightweight divisions: The one where fighters are only of interest to the extent that they're headed up the ladder toward a title fight (Arman Tsarukyan, Mateusz Gamrot, guys like that), and the one where we know and love these fighters and would happily watch any of them fight any others at any time (Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Dan Hooker, and so forth). Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway at UFC 318 is a great example of the latter division. It's for the BMF belt, so you can't say there are no stakes, but whatever. We don't need a physical belt to tell us what it's about or why we should watch. Advertisement As for what happens to everyone else, I think a lot depends on the next lightweight title fight. If it's Makhachev vs. Topuria, then the rest of the division has to sit tight and wait. A Topuria victory would give new life to a lot of the contenders Makhachev has already beaten. And a Makhachev victory (depending what happens in the upcoming welterweight title fight) would leave us with questions about whether he should stay put or seek his fortune in other divisions. There's a lot still up in the air at 155 pounds. It's a good time to stay ready and keep your phone on if you're someone in the top 10. @EyeofMihawk: How many Eddie Halls would it take to beat a gorilla Depends how old the gorilla is. Because against the 48-year-old version of Mariusz Pudzianowksi, who Eddie Hall also outweighed by nearly 70 pounds, he did very well. That said, it's not like the man is a precision weapon of martial arts mastery. Really all he's got is size and brute force, which are the main things the gorilla naturally excels at. Advertisement All of which is to say, I think 25 Eddie Halls could get the job done. Maybe 30 just to be on the safe side. But no matter what, you know it's going to be ugly. @titanmarsXS: If Jones isn't ready for summer, who do you match Tom up with? Do you strip Jones at that point? I'd give Jon Jones until the end of summer to agree to a fight with Tom Aspinall some time this year. Ideally, the fight could headline the usual fall UFC event in Madison Square Garden. If the leaves change and Jones still hasn't signed, strip him and let's do Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane or whoever. But let's be real clear: Calling Jones the 'undisputed' UFC heavyweight champion requires a willingness to completely disregard what words mean. As of right now there is no more disputed title in the entire UFC. He didn't beat the champ to become the champ, and he has not defended the belt against any top contenders. There's literally another UFC heavyweight champion walking the earth. The title could not be any more disputed. @BTM99_MMA: Pride style yellow cards (20% fight purse fine) for the 1st eye poke or low blow. 2nd = point & another 20% We just stopped eye pokes / low blows overnight? Advertisement You'll never stop them completely because a lot of those fouls are accidental and baked into a sport with fingerless gloves and leg kicks. Sometimes people are going to get kicked in the groin or poked in the eyes. The goal is to limit it while also finding a way to disincentivize it. I'm reluctant to support anything that takes money away from the fighters since they make so little as it is, but you might be onto something with the combination of fines and point deductions. Just taking points doesn't do enough (though would be worth more of a try) since what does it matter if your eye pokes help you finish the fight before it gets to the scorecards? Once you go to messing with people's money, however, you do get their attention. Let's just make sure all that fine money goes to the opponent who got fouled. Or some sort of ophthalmology research fund. @ewilcock: The liberals won another election up north. Care to give your reaction to the Canadian Co-Mainiacs? Advertisement First of all I'd like to say to my Canadian listeners of the Co-Main Event podcast, I love you all equally. Second, I think there might be a couple dozen people in the entire United States who know enough to have an informed opinion of Canadian elections. I am not one of them.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Why not watch the documentary instead?': Netizens react to trailer of Dwayne Johnson's The Smashing Machine
The Smashing Machine trailer: Dwayne Johnson is one of the most popular names in the film industry. 'The Rock', as WWE fans refer to him as, has impressed movie buffs with his comic timing and striking screen presence. He is now in the limelight because of his latest film, The Smashing Machine. The trailer of the sports drama is out and it has created a great deal of buzz among netizens. The film is based on the 2002 documentary of the same name and features Dwayne as MMA icon Mark Kerr. X reacts to trailer of The Smashing Machine The trailer of The Smashing Machine is out, and it has become the talk of the town in no time. The video features Dwayne Johnson in the titular role and is touted to be a game-changer for him. He plays Mark Kerr in the biggie, and his transformation for this role is remarkable. The trailer suggests that this will be a gritty and hard-hitting biopic. However, not everyone is impressed by it. Some netizens took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their opinions about the trailer. A user said that it would be better to watch the 2002 documentary as most of the scenes (featured in the trailer) are recreations of the ones seen in it. Having watched the trailer for The Smashing Machine more than ever I'm left wondering. Why not just watch the documentary? Most scenes in the trailer is a recreation of the documentary. Plus the documentary doesn't have the uncanny valley of Dwayne Johnson in that makeup Another one too echoed similar sentiments. Looks like they just dramatized an already great documentary (The Smashing Machine). One fan said he was shocked to see an Israeli flag in the trailer. WHY TF IS THERE AN ISRAEL FLAG IN THE FIRST 10 SECONDS OF THE SMASHING MACHINE TRAILER LMAOOO, CANT MAKE THIS UP! 😂😂😂 Another netizen wondered if the trailer should have been given an 'R' rating because of the violence in it. I'm also guessing the ufc style violence in smashing machine isn't enough to warrant its R rating The trailer comes at a time when WWE fans are criticising Dwayne for missing WrestleMania 41 despite the fact that he was an integral part of the John Cena-Cody Rhodes storyline. About The Smashing Machine The Smashing Machine is a biographical sports drama directed by Benny Safdie. The film delves into the life of MMA legend Mark Kerr who left a strong impact on UFC. The film features Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the lead. The cast includes Ryan Bader, Bas Ruden, and Oleksandr Usyk. The Smashing Machine will hit the screens on October 3. For all the latest coverage on Southern cinema & OTT shows, click here
