Dwayne Johnson shares reason behind taking on A24 biopic of MMA star Mark Kerr, 'The Smashing Machine

Dwayne Johnson’s latest project, The Smashing Machine, produced by A24, may prove to be one of the most demanding roles yet in his acting career. Known for his action-packed, feel-good movies, Johnson chose this role for a more profound exploration of character. The Hollywood star will portray MMA fighter Mark Kerr, whose life was marked by battles with addiction.

In an interview with GQ, Johnson expressed that the film allowed him to "challenge" himself creatively in new ways. The role invited him to explore "deeper, richer" material, beyond his usual blockbuster roles. Directed by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine offers a gritty departure from Johnson’s traditional projects. The story is set in a world that’s dark and reflective of complex human experiences.

Speaking about his struggles, Johnson said:

“I didn’t have anybody to turn to. I didn’t have a mentor, I didn’t have a big brother. So it was like, Oh, I need to figure all this sh*t out on my own. So you figure out the sh*t on your own, and then the sh*t you don’t figure out, well, guess where it goes?” In there [points to his heart]." [H/t: GQ]

Kerr’s story of rise and struggle in the ’90s MMA scene parallels some of Johnson’s life challenges. The film enabled Johnson to “disappear” into a character, moving away from the familiar expectations of his persona 'The Rock'. Speaking about whether he will choose more character-based roles in the future. Johnson added:

“A hundred percent. Now not to say that ‘Oh, there’s no more big movies.’ Because the big movies are fun and there’s a place for them in our business for a lot of families and people around the world to enjoy them. But there’s also a place for me, in my career, where the material is deeper, it allows me to sink my teeth into something deeper, richer.”

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Dana White claims Dwayne Johnson could be nominated for an Oscar for The Smashing Machine

UFC CEO Dana White has praised Dwayne Johnson's dedication to his role as Mark Kerr in the upcoming film The Smashing Machine. He labeled it a potential Oscar-worthy performance and emphasized Johnson's commitment to the project.

The film will tell the story of Kerr's life, focusing on his battles with addiction, relationships and MMA championship victories. Speaking about Johnson's transformation in an interview with Collider, White said:

“I don’t know if you saw it, but he was showing on his Instagram the other day that he messed up his elbow. 'The Rock’ will kill this. He will nail this role. I know how serious he’s taking this, I know who’s working with him, and I know how hard he’s working on this film. I think that this could be the opportunity for ‘The Rock’ to actually be nominated for an Oscar."