Word of the Day
The Smashing Machine, the eagerly awaited A24 Film directed by Benny Safdie and featuring Dwayne Johnson, has just unveiled its first trailer, showcasing a transformed Johnson in the leading role.
In The Smashing Machine, Johnson portrays Mark Kerr, the iconic MMA fighter nicknamed “The Smashing Machine,” who rose to prominence in the sport. His career highlights include competing in elite promotions such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Japan’s Pride Fighting Championships.
Johnson Takes Action By Putting Himself Into Big Shot Positions ✨
Johnson aims to transition into more serious roles after spending over a decade as one of Hollywood’s leading action stars. These types of roles often lack depth for the actors portraying them, but this opportunity allows him to prove his critics wrong.
Benny Safdie takes the helm as director of the film, which features Emily Blunt portraying Mark Kerr’s then-wife, Dawn Staples. The supporting cast boasts a diverse lineup, including Lyndsey Gavin as Elizabeth Coleman, Ryan Bader in the role of Mark Coleman, and Zoe Kosovic as McKenzie Coleman.
Notably, Bas Rutten makes a cameo appearance as himself. Additionally, the film includes Oleksandr Usyk portraying Igor Vovchanchyn, Paul Lazenby as Hans Nijman, James Moontasri as Akira Shoji, Yoko Hamamura as Kazuyuki Fujita, Paul Cheng as Masaaki Satake, and Andre Tricoteux taking on the role of Paul Varelans.
The film has generated significant interest and curiosity within the combat sports community due to its portrayal of the sport. Last year, Dana White, the President and CEO of UFC, shared with Collider that he felt Johnson had a real chance at receiving award recognition for his performance as Kerr, having witnessed firsthand the dedication and effort he put into his role in the film.