Dwayne Johnson will play the lead role in the biographical drama “The Smashing Machine.” It will be the story of the legendary MMA and UFC fighter, Mark Kerr.
Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie join forces.
Behind the camera will be Benny Safdie, who, along with his brother Josh, directed the acclaimed crime dramas “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems.” “The Smashing Machine” will be his first solo directorial project. The production will be financed by the renowned independent cinema promotion studio A24.
Born in 1968, Mark Kerr has over two dozen MMA championship titles to his name. Additionally, he twice won the UFC heavyweight championship and won the Vale Tudo world tournament. A shadow was cast on his spectacular sports career due to an addiction to painkillers. The film will tell the story of Kerr’s life in the year 2000, a time when the fighter struggled with both professional and personal issues.
Dwayne and Benny are exceptional artists. Their shared vision of Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying. We are deeply honored to have gained their trust and will help them bring this extraordinary project to life, says Noah Sacco from A24. “The Smashing Machine” is set to be the most demanding dramatic role in Johnson’s entire career, who has so far specialized in action and comedy films. The star has been working on Kerr’s biography since 2019.
Dwayne Johnson: A wrestling career.
Dwayne Johnson is a retired wrestling legend, businessman, film producer, and one of the highest-grossing actors in Hollywood history. All films featuring him have earned over $10.5 billion worldwide. Among the most well-known titles in his filmography are the “Fast and Furious” series, two parts of “Jumanji,” “San Andreas,” and “Red Notice.”
