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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson regarded completely unrecognizable as he remodeled into combined martial arts (MMA) legend Mark Kerr within the 2025 biographical drama The Smashing Machine, gorgeous many followers who had no thought who the actor was in a brand new snap from Benny Safdie’s film set.
Taking to their official X web page (previously referred to as Twitter) on Tuesday (Might 21), American unbiased leisure firm A24 launched a {photograph} of The Rock because the two-time UFC heavyweight champion sitting in a boxing ring surrounded by his cornermen.
- Dwayne Johnson remodeled into MMA legend Mark Kerr for ‘The Smashing Machine’, leaving followers shocked.
- A24 launched a primary look of Dwayne as Mark, pairing him with Emily Blunt within the movie.
- The movie explores Mark’s battles out and in of the ring, together with his wrestle with painkiller dependancy.
A24, accountable for distributing the film, captioned its put up: “First take a look at Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE starring @TheRock and Emily Blunt.”
Emily performs Daybreak Staples, Mark’s girlfriend.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s gorgeous transformation into MMA legend Mark Kerr left followers astounded
Picture credit: therock
The image left many utterly baffled, as an X consumer commented: “Rattling! Loopy how effectively they made him appear like Mark Kerr!
“This film is gonna be superior.
“Mark’s story is unbelievable and the documentary on him wasn’t sufficient.”
In 2002, HBO aired a documentary titled The Smashing Machine, directed by John Hyams, which handled the athlete’s life and profession.
Picture credit: A24
This system chronicled Mark’s dependancy to painkillers and the no-holds-barred (NH) side of early combined martial arts competitions.
NHB refers back to the preliminary interval of MMA the place there have been only a few guidelines or restrictions on the methods and holds that fighters may use.
This fashion of preventing was characterised by a scarcity of weight lessons, minimal laws, and infrequently brutal and unrestricted fight.
“Which one is The Rock?” an observer requested.
A brand new snapshot of Benny Safdie’s 2025 biographical drama The Smashing Machine was launched by A24
Picture credit: markkerrtsm
An individual wrote: “Dwayne appears to be like completely completely different, bro’s lastly gonna act.”
Another person questioned: “You imply to inform me that that’s the rock and never Lou Ferrigno?”
A commentator questioned: “Is it CGI or make-up?”
Picture credit: Millennium Leisure
“Unrecognizable. FINALLY. ‘The Rock’ is bouta faucet again into his ‘Ache & Acquire’ days. That’s in all probability his Greatest Position to this point, till this comes out,” a viewer famous.
A consumer added: “Barely unrecognizable… The place is @TheRock right here?”
One other particular person expressed their shock: “That’s THE ROCK??? Holy sh*t appears to be like unrecognizable.”
The Rock performs the two-time UFC heavyweight champion
Picture credit: markkerrtsm
A separate particular person chimed in: “I really needed to zoom in to make it possible for was him as a result of wow… actually unrecognizable!”
The Smashing Machine is director Benny’s first undertaking since “amicably” splitting from working along with his older brother, Josh. The siblings have been notably referred to as the “Safdie brothers.”
In accordance with Dwayne, he and Benny first aligned on the undertaking in 2019, when the 52-year-old actor’s Seven Bucks Productions acquired the rights to Mark’s story, Selection reported in January 2024.
Picture credit: Millennium Leisure
As a token of his enthusiasm, the 38-year-old film maker despatched Dwayne a Nautica sweatshirt that the UFC champion wore within the 2002 HBO documentary, in addition to a handwritten letter telling the WWE star what he sees in him as an actor.
When the pandemic hit and put every little thing on maintain, Dwayne and Benny have been pulled right into a slew of different commitments and reportedly fell out of contact.
Nevertheless, The Rock advised Selection he “nonetheless considered The Smashing Machine day by day.”
In accordance with Dwayne, he and Benny first aligned on the undertaking in 2019
Picture credit: therock
Years later, Dwayne spoke to his Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt whereas she was off taking pictures Oppenheimer, by which Benny performed Hungarian theoretical physicist Edward Teller.
The skilled wrestler despatched Emily the HBO documentary and advised her that enjoying the fighter in a characteristic movie is “the factor that actually speaks to [him], that [he] need[s] to sink [his] enamel into,” Selection reported.
The 41-year-old actress watched the documentary and, as Dwayne reportedly remembered, known as him again instantly, insisting, “You could make this film.”
Picture credit: therock
“Unbeknownst to me, Christopher Nolan had forged Benny as one of many scientists in Oppenheimer,” The Rock advised Selection.
Upon mentioning Dwayne’s title to Benny, Emily reconnected the director to the Samoan actor, and the remaining is historical past.
The Rock advised Selection: “Benny desires to create, and continues to push the envelope in relation to tales which are uncooked and actual, characters which are genuine and at occasions uncomfortable and arresting.”
The Rock advised Selection he “nonetheless considered The Smashing Machine day by day” in the course of the pandemic
“I’m at a degree in my profession the place I wish to push myself in ways in which I’ve not pushed myself up to now.
“I’m at a degree in my profession the place I wish to make movies that matter, that discover a humanity and discover wrestle [and] ache.”
Along with Dwayne and Emily, the upcoming biographical sports activities drama will characteristic skilled Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk as Ukrainian NHB MMA champion Igor Vovchanchyn, Mark’s fierce competitor.
The sportsmen famously clashed on the Satisfaction Combating Championships 7 in 1999, ending controversially in a no-contest as a result of unlawful strikes.
American MMA champion Ryan Bader performs Mark Coleman, the primary UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Mark Kerr and Mark Coleman shared a big relationship as each buddies and coaching companions, having been pivotal figures within the early days of combined martial arts.
Principal pictures for The Smashing Machine started on Might 21, 2024, in Vancouver, Los Angeles, New Mexico, and Tokyo. It’s anticipated to movie till August 1 and be launched in theaters subsequent 12 months.
“Strategy to push the boundaries of your limits, Rock!” a reader commented
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