Famed wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson prepares to move from the squared circle to the octagon as he shapes up to star in The Smashing Machine. The Rock released a new behind-the-scenes video showing his preparation for the A24 film.
Via his Instagram account, Johnson shared a training video of himself grappling inside a ring, learning the nuances of mixed martial arts as he gets ready to play MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Johnson said the MMA training camp he’s undergoing is “a very humbling, intense and motivating journey into this world of combat.” He also admitted that, despite being a hard worker, he understood straightaway that he would “have to work harder with this role than anything I’ve ever worked for in my life.”
Johnson has been ramping up training for The Smashing Machine since he appeared as The Rock aka The Final Boss during Wrestlemania 40, competing in a tag team match alongside Roman Reigns against Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes during Night 1. The upcoming sports drama will shoot in Los Angeles, New Mexico, Vancouver and Tokyo, with Benny Safdie directing the film, marking the first movie he’s helmed since his creative split with his brother, Joshua.
Dwayne Johnson Teams Up With A24
The Smashing Machine was confirmed by A24 last December with Johnson announced as its lead actor. The film sees Johnson portray Kerr, the trendsetting MMA fighter and championship-winning wrestler who made his name in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the late ’90s and early 2000s. The film chronicles the titular fighter in the year 2000 as he deals with the pressures of winning, his relationship and struggles with substance abuse.
Johnson has spoken highly of The Smashing Machine, insisting he wanted to ‘make films that matter’ when he accepted the opportunity to play Kerr. The project has been in the making for years, with Oscar-nominated actor and Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt encouraging him to set the movie in motion. Blunt, who starred alongside Johnson in Jungle Cruise, is reportedly the frontrunner to play Kerr’s then-wife, Dawn Staples, in The Smashing Machine.
Johnson’s schedule is increasingly busy as he’s also been working on the Moana live-action film and animated sequel, reprising his role as Maui in both. Additionally, he is set to shoot the upcoming Fast & Furious spinoff movie based on his lawman character in the action franchise, Luke Hobbs.
No release window has been confirmed for The Smashing Machine, though it’s believed the film will premiere sometime in 2025.
