The forthcoming biopic from A24, ‘The Smashing Machine,’ draws its inspiration from the 2002 HBO documentary with the same title. This seminal documentary drew a vivid portrait of the life and challenges of Mark Kerr, a luminary of the UFC and a pioneer in the world of MMA. Kerr, with his formidable combat sports career, was a double UFC heavyweight champion and racked up four victories at the ADCC World Submission Championships. However, his personal life was less lucky than his professional one, as he battled an addiction to painkillers and underwent personal tumult.
At last, the debut trailer for ‘The Smashing Machine’ has made its appearance, revealing a completely new side of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Commanded by the well-reputed director Benny Safdie, the narrative of the movie tracks Kerr’s whirlwind life, from his supremacy in the initial era of UFC and Pride FC, through to his struggles with addiction and his internal battles.
Johnson, nearly transcending his persona with makeup and a wig, seeks to portray a brutally honest and intense performance, venturing into dramatically different territory from his usual blockbuster appearances. In the trailer, we also get a glimpse of actress Emily Blunt, who will appear alongside Johnson as Kerr’s spouse, Dawn Staples.
The spotlight of the trailer also falls onto various real-life fighters from combat sports. This includes Ryan Bader, a former competitor in the UFC, and Oleksandr Usyk, a world-class boxing champion. Viewers will get to see a blend of fictional and real-life portrayals of renowned combat sport figures.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, a standout amongst the biggest Hollywood action stars known for his roles in the Fast & Furious series and Jumanji, has publicly voiced his ambition to delve into more thought-provoking, challenging roles. Enhanced character exploration and the portrayal of significant human experiences are part of Johnson’s new acting aspirations.
‘I am at a pivotal juncture in my career where I want to test and expand my creative boundaries more than ever before,’ asserts Johnson. Furthermore, he adds, ‘I’m at this pivotal juncture in my career where I want to contribute to films that make an impact, films that delve into human experiences, struggle, and suffering.’
Scheduled to hit the screens on October 3, ‘The Smashing Machine’ may be a significant stepping stone for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, in addition to potentially reshaping the landscape for MMA biopics altogether.
Kerr himself shared his emotions about this project, still seeming astounded by its reality, ‘I am still wrestling with the disbelief that this is actually happening. I hold immense pride for the dedication and hard work invested into breathing life into The Smashing Machine.’
Kerr continued, expressing his profound gratitude and respect for the attention to detail uncovered during the production process. ‘I am filled with profound gratitude, humility, and awe for the meticulous attention to every little aspect of this production,’ he acknowledged.
In conclusion, Kerr voiced his anticipation for sharing what promises to be a captivating biographical depiction with audiences around the globe. ‘I cannot wait to present this intimate cinematic experience to people worldwide,’ Kerr added.