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[DKehoe]

Dwayne Johnson will be taking his most dramatic role to date in a new A24 project from one half of the Uncut Gems team, Benny Safdie.

Johnson is set to star in The Smashing Machine as real-life mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion. Safdie, who wrote and will direct the feature (his first solo directorial effort), has been developing the project with Johnson, who notably started his career as a professional wrestler, since 2019.

A 2002 HBO doc also titled The Smashing Machine details Kerr’s professional career and his rise through the fighting world, as well as his battle with an addiction to pain killers that lead to an overdose. Kerr earned the nickname “The Smashing Machine” due to no-holds-barred fighting style.

The Hollywood Reporter

Cool to see The Rock play a role that isn't just the same persona he's been wheeling out for the past few years. Safdie has been doing some great stuff recently too. I had just finished watching the latest episode of The Curse when I saw this.

For anyone not familiar with Kerr, a documentary of the same name as this film (which was Kerr's nickname) covered his story.

 

[dem]

I dunno how it could be any better than the real smashing machine..

 

[AJUMP23]

I have never seen this doc. But I will correct that.

 

[Punished Miku]

That's actually great casting. Smashing machine was always one of our favorites.

 

[MaestroMike]

wonder how intense its gonna be with ben safdie directing it I guess I'm in