Dwayne Johnson Plays Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine

Dwayne Johnson underwent a striking physical and prosthetic transformation to play former MMA champion Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, adding weight and fast‑twitch muscle and enduring roughly three hours of daily makeup to recreate Kerr’s physique. The Benny Safdie‑directed drama, which co-stars Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife, premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is scheduled to open in theaters on October 3. Johnson said the role was a long‑sought chance to “rip myself open,” admitting he was nervous and drew on personal childhood trauma — including his family’s eviction at 15 — to convey Kerr’s battles with addiction and depression. Safdie emphasized the film’s emotional core over pure sports drama, and the project has already generated significant attention and awards‑season talk. Johnson framed the film as a turning point away from chasing box‑office hits toward deeper creative fulfillment.