Dwayne Johnson’s Transformation for ‘The Smashing Machine’
Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as ‘The Rock’, has openly revealed his process for embodying the role of Mark Kerr, a renowned UFC heavyweight champion, for his upcoming movie. Speaking at a discussion at the Venice Film Festival on September 2nd, Johnson described the personal and emotional transformation he undertook for the primary part in the soon-to-be-released film, ‘The Smashing Machine.’ ‘I had this irresistible drive to undergo this transformation’, said Johnson.’ I’ve been immensely privileged to have had the career that I’ve had so far, to have made the films that I have, but there was this nagging gut feeling, questioning if I could push the boundaries even further, could I actually achieve more? What would that entail?’
The specificities of the physical metamorphosis Johnson went through for this role have not yet been shared by the actor, but eagle-eyed fans noticed that he appeared trimmer at recent promotional appearances. Originally, Johnson made his name as ‘The Rock’, an iconic WWF wrestler. This was after he had a stint with professional football. Turning to acting, he quickly became a key ingredient in adrenaline-fueled blockbusters such as ‘Fast & Furious’ and ‘Jumanji’ from the start of the new millennium
Johnson reflected on his journey through Hollywood thus far, admitting that he has sometimes felt ‘pigeonholed’, which he perceives as impacting his choices of film roles. ‘I could see that happening,’ said Johnson. ‘I worked in those films, and I enjoyed them — they were entertaining, captivating. Some were exceptionally well received and performed admirably, while others did not manage to reach that level.’ However, his new role is shaking things up in terms of his typical roles
Speaking about the burden of telling Mark Kerr’s narrative of addiction, love, and redemption, Johnson found himself becoming emotional. ‘Mark was at one point the greatest fighter in the world, but this film isn’t really about the fights — it’s centered on love. It’s a tale about Mark and his wife Dawn Staples’ relationship, and about Mark’s passionate love for his profession’, expounded Johnson. ‘As most people are aware, Mark had two overdoses and is fortunate to be alive — which is a part of why this storyline is extraordinary,’ he conveyed.
Dawn Staples, Kerr’s wife, is being played by Emily Blunt in ‘The Smashing Machine’, which is set to release on October 3rd. During the discussion at the film festival, Johnson expressed his gratitude to Emily Blunt for her support. ‘This radical transformation wouldn’t have been possible without my best friend supporting and inspiring me’, he confessed, indicating Blunt who was his rock throughout the whole process.
The Venice Film Festival appearance left Johnson overwhelmed; he confessed to still being surprised to be a part of the prestigious event, owing to the diverse role he has just taken on. On August 30th, Johnson shared a close-up video where he admitted struggling to keep his emotions in check. ‘Trying to maintain my cool and absorb every moment and every second.’