Dwayne Johnsontook some time out of his notoriously busy schedule to show great admiration and respect for the person he is portraying in the upcoming A24 filmThe Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie. Just this past week, the stars of the film, Johnson andEmily Blunt, attended the UFC Hall of Fame Induction ofMark Kerr, whom Johnson portrays in the sports drama. The UFC Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor for those who participate in the sport, and having Kerr inducted right before the release of a biopic about his contributions to the sport feels fitting.
More than just attending, Johnson presented the trophy to Kerr, which comes with induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. Specifically, Kerr became the 21st member of the Pioneer Era Wing of the Hall of Fame, and the ceremony took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Emily Blunt plays Dawn Staples-Kerr, Mark Kerr’s first wife and a pivotal character in the film, which tells the story of Kerr’s early career and hardships during the early stagesof the UFC sport.
The Rock Is Almost Unrecognizable in New Look at ‘The Smashing Machine’
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays the iconic UFC veteran in Benny Safdie’s biopic ‘The Smashing Machine’ for A24.
Having Johnson and Blunt attend the induction ceremony further proves that the cast behind the film are invested inthe real-life peoplethat they are portraying. WhileThe Smashing Machinemay be about Kerr’s initial highs and lows early in his UFC career, it must be rewarding for him and Johnson, who has become so intimately acquainted with Kerr’s history, to see how far the athlete has come. Moreover, Kerr’s induction could pave the way for UFC enthusiasts to be interested in his career and check outThe Smashing Machinewhen it hits theaters later this year.
‘The Smashing Machine’ Challenged Dwayne Johnson in a Way No Other Role Has
Dwayne Johnson is nearlyunrecognizable as Mark Kerr in the first trailerreleased forThe Smashing Machine, having transformed his physical appearance and used prosthetics to closely resemble the real-life UFC Hall of Famer. The actor, who has been known to star in numerous blockbusters with less substance than a film likeThe Smashing Machine, would tell Pat McAfee that he intended to explore material with more depth, which would prove to be a challenge for the actor. As Johsnon would say, his role inThe Smashing Machinewas all in service of doing something he’d never done before:
“I love making the bigger blockbuster movies. They’re a lot of fun. They’re hard as s*** to make, and a lot of people enjoy them—hopefully, knock on wood around the world—but I wanted more. I wanted a challenge, and I just wanted the opportunity to disappear into something and disappear into a part and a role that would really challenge me in ways that I’ve never been challenged before.”
The Smashing Machineis the first project that Benny Safdie will solely direct, as all of his previous films are ones that he co-directed with his brother, Josh Safdie. Interestingly enough, Josh Safdie is also directing his own sports film due forrelease in December 2025, titledMarty Supreme, which is loosely based on the table tennis legend Martin ‘Marty’ Reisman, with Timothée Chalamet playing Marty Mauser. It will be interesting to see how each director’s project turns out upon release without relying on each other’s collaboration.
Source:Pat McAfee Show
The Smashing Machine
