Latest news with #TheSmashingMachine:TheLifeandTimesof
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dwayne Johnson is unrecognizable as real-life UFC fighter Mark Kerr in a new A24 movie. Here's what to know about 'The Smashing Machine.'
Dwayne Johnson is playing MMA and UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the biopic "The Smashing Machine." Johnson looks unrecognizable in the movie, appearing to wear a wig and prosthetics. "The Smashing Machine," written and directed by Benny Safdie, releases in theaters on October 3. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's signature tattoos and bald head are nowhere to be seen in the first trailer for A24's upcoming biopic about a legendary athlete. In "The Smashing Machine,"Johnson transforms into mixed martial arts (MMA) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Mark Kerr, seemingly with the help of a wig and facial prosthetics. The film, written and directed by Benny Safdie, has been in development since 2019 and was officially announced in late 2023. Now, it's gearing up for a fall release: October 3, 2025. Here's what to know about the movie and the real-life UFC legend Johnson is portraying. Kerr, born in 1968, is a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and a World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner. Kerr's no-holds-barred fighting style earned him the nickname "The Smashing Machine." His career was previously chronicled in the HBO documentary "The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr." The documentary gives fans an inside look at Kerr's triumphs as a fighter, his relationship with now-ex-wife Dawn Staples, and his addiction to painkillers, which led to an overdose that he recovered from. In addition to Johnson portraying Kerr, "The Smashing Machine" stars Emily Blunt as Staples. Johnson told Variety that he and Safdie connected about the biopic in 2019, when Seven Bucks Productions, the production company co-founded by Johnson and Dany Garcia, acquired the rights to Kerr's story. The project was put on hold due to pandemic-related delays and other commitments, but eventually, Johnson and the director reconnected thanks to mutual acquaintance Blunt, who filmed "Oppenheimer" with Safdie and previously starred alongside Johnson in "Jungle Cruise." Nowadays, Johnson is known for roles in action movies like the "Fast & Furious" franchise, the "Jumanji" films, and Disney's "Moana" movies. But the actor knows a thing or two about being in the ring. Before becoming a bankable Hollywood star, Johnson followed in his father Rocky Johnson's footsteps and became a professional wrestler. Johnson largely stepped back from WWE superstardom in 2004 and pivoted to a career as an actor. "The Smashing Machine" marks a departure from Johnson's past work. In the biopic, he ditches superhero suits and musical tunes for a more emotional performance as Kerr, who struggled with an addiction to painkillers during his career as a professional fighter. Johnson told Variety that he's not abandoning blockbusters, but he's eager to try something different. "I'm at this point in my career where I want more," he said. "And I don't mean I want more box office. I mean I want more humanity. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me." "The Smashing Machine" hits theaters October 3. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Dwayne Johnson is unrecognizable as real-life UFC fighter Mark Kerr in a new A24 movie. Here's what to know about 'The Smashing Machine.'
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson 's signature tattoos and bald head are nowhere to be seen in the first trailer for A24's upcoming biopic about a legendary athlete. In "The Smashing Machine,"Johnson transforms into mixed martial arts (MMA) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Mark Kerr, seemingly with the help of a wig and facial prosthetics. The film, written and directed by Benny Safdie, has been in development since 2019 and was officially announced in late 2023. Now, it's gearing up for a fall release: October 3, 2025. Here's what to know about the movie and the real-life UFC legend Johnson is portraying. Mark Kerr is known for his no-holds-barred fighting style Kerr, born in 1968, is a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and a World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner. Kerr's no-holds-barred fighting style earned him the nickname "The Smashing Machine." His career was previously chronicled in the HBO documentary "The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr." The documentary gives fans an inside look at Kerr's triumphs as a fighter, his relationship with now-ex-wife Dawn Staples, and his addiction to painkillers, which led to an overdose that he recovered from. 'The Smashing Machine' has been in the works for 6 years In addition to Johnson portraying Kerr, "The Smashing Machine" stars Emily Blunt as Staples. Johnson told Variety that he and Safdie connected about the biopic in 2019, when Seven Bucks Productions, the production company co-founded by Johnson and Dany Garcia, acquired the rights to Kerr's story. The project was put on hold due to pandemic-related delays and other commitments, but eventually, Johnson and the director reconnected thanks to mutual acquaintance Blunt, who filmed " Oppenheimer" with Safdie and previously starred alongside Johnson in "Jungle Cruise." Nowadays, Johnson is known for roles in action movies like the "Fast & Furious" franchise, the "Jumanji" films, and Disney's " Moana" movies. But the actor knows a thing or two about being in the ring. Before becoming a bankable Hollywood star, Johnson followed in his father Rocky Johnson's footsteps and became a professional wrestler. Johnson largely stepped back from WWE superstardom in 2004 and pivoted to a career as an actor. "The Smashing Machine" marks a departure from Johnson's past work. In the biopic, he ditches superhero suits and musical tunes for a more emotional performance as Kerr, who struggled with an addiction to painkillers during his career as a professional fighter. Johnson told Variety that he's not abandoning blockbusters, but he's eager to try something different. "I'm at this point in my career where I want more," he said. "And I don't mean I want more box office. I mean I want more humanity. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me." "The Smashing Machine" hits theaters October 3.
Vancouver Sun
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
New trailer: Dwayne Johnson as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine
An almost 'unrecognizable' Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson is the focus of a new trailer for his upcoming movie The Smashing Machine that dropped on YouTube on Tuesday morning. Article content Article content Johnson plays Mark Kerr, a star of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) when the mixed martial arts phenomenon was in its infancy. Article content The movie is directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), based on his own script crafted from Kerr's own true story. It was filmed in and around Metro Vancouver from May to July 2024. Article content Article content Johnson nursed the project through all the stages of its development and acted as executive producer, before setting up in Hollywood North to play the title character last summer. Article content Article content Johnson also endured a radical transformation in the makeup chair each day of filming to portray Kerr, who was a huge star and multiple champion in the early years of UFC/MMA, then fell on hard times as the new millennium dawned before getting sober in recent years. Johnson's co-star Emily Blunt described him as 'unrecognizable' in the role. Article content The trailer, which also features Blunt as Kerr's partner, offers a hint of what to expect. Just like the early UFC days it depicts, it's gritty, rough and bloody, mirroring its 2022 documentary counterpart (also called The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr). Article content Article content
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
1st look at Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson in ‘The Smashing Machine'
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is taking on a different form of fighting for his upcoming movie 'The Smashing Machine.' The first trailer for the A24 film was released on Tuesday, with Johnson looking unrecognizable as former UFC champion Mark Kerr. The role is a more dramatic one for the WWE superstar turned actor. He reunites with his 'Jungle Cruise' co-star Emily Blunt, who plays Kerr's wife Dawn Staples. In 2002, Kerr was the subject of an HBO documentary, 'The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.' The doc followed Kerr's life within the sport and touched on his use of painkillers and narcotics as well as his relationship with Staples. Kerr is a former collegiate wrestler, two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and World Vale Tudo Champion. Ben Safdie of 'Uncut Gems' and 'Good Time' is the film's director and writer. Johnson posted the two-and-a-half-minute trailer to his YouTube page, and fans quickly weighed in on how this role differs from the many he's played in past films. 'FINALLY The Rock has come back…to not playing the same character & escaped the jungle, wrote one fan in the comment section. 'Finally a serious movie from The Rock. It looks and feels fantastic,' wrote another. 'Holy s–t, DJ actually looks like he put on an Oscar-worthy performance,' another weighed in. 'The Smashing Machine' is set to be released in theaters on Oct. 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dwayne Johnson Transforms Into UFC Legend Mark Kerr in 'The Smashing Machine' Trailer
Dwayne Johnson is entering new territory with his latest role. On Tuesday, April 29, A24 released the trailer for Johnson's new movie The Smashing Machine, a biographical drama in which he portrays real-life UFC legend Mark Kerr. Johnson, who holds a long-running career as a WWE wrestler that dates back to before he broke into movies, steps back into a combat sport to portray Kerr, 56, through his mixed martial arts career and the early years of Dana White's UFC. An official synopsis for the movie simply describes The Smashing Machine as "the story of legendary mixed martial arts & UFC fighter Mark Kerr." The trailer meets Johnson as Kerr explaining the UFC to a woman in a waiting room. Costar Emily Blunt, who plays Mark's then-wife Dawn, is seen rooting for Mark during his fights and supporting him away from the ring, even as he struggles with his training and the associated pain that comes with participating in a high-stakes sport. Mark's climactic fight with close friend and fellow Mark Coleman is teased in the trailer, as are arguments — and emotional reunions — with Dawn. At the trailer's end, Johnson's character signs an autograph for a young fan and playfully advises him not to get into fighting. Related: Dwayne Johnson Dodges Major Birthday Mishap as He Celebrates His Daughter Tiana's 7th Birthday The real-life Kerr shared the movie's poster to his Instagram on Monday, April 28 and wrote in a caption to the post that he remains "in disbelief that this is real." "I am so proud of the work DJ put into becoming The Smashing Machine. I have so much gratitude, humility and respect for every little detail production uncovered," Kerr wrote in a caption. "Can't wait to share this experience with the world." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Kerr's career and life story was previously covered in the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, which displays the mental and physical toll MMA fighting takes on its competitors. Related: Dwayne Johnson Says Being in Hawaii Reminds Him of 'Good' and 'Not So Good Stuff' Years After Arrests There Aside from Johnson and Blunt — who reunite in The Smashing Machine after they costarred in Disney's 2021 movie Jungle Cruise — the film also stars Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and Oleksandr Usyk. Benny Safdie, the actor and filmmaker who directed movies like Uncut Gems and Good Time, wrote and directed. The Smashing Machine hits theaters Oct. 3. Read the original article on People
