- Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to star as UFC legend Mark Kerr
- Emily Blunt also starring
- Benny Safdie will direct the biopic
The Smashing Machine now has an official poster to sit alongside those eyebrow raising shots released of an unrecognisable Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, that circulated last year.
And the trailer is also imminent.
A24’s upcoming biopic of UFC legend Mark Kerr is one of the year’s most hotly anticipated films. Directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems, Good Time), the film will mark a rare foray into a dramatic role for leading man Johnson, who has made his name in blockbuster action films and comedies over the past 20 years.
But what do we know about the film ahead of its trailer release tomorrow (April 29)?
What is The Smashing Machine About?
The Smashing Machine is a biopic of Mark Kerr. Kerr, a dominant collegiate wrestler who won the NCAA Championship at 190lb in 1992, became a trailblazer in UFC and MMA in general. Winning two UFC Heavyweight Tournaments in 1997, Kerr then took his immense fighting talents to Japan, where he competed in PRIDE. Kerr remained undefeated for over two years in Japan, finally suffering his first loss to Kazuyuki Fujita, via decision, at the Grand Prix finals in 2000.
Despite a prodigious start to his MMA career, defeats began to stack up for Kerr. And with every defeat, his star waned and his life outside of the ring began to suffer quite dramatically. Kerr became addicted to painkillers, exacerbated by suffering numerous knockout losses. His life was the subject of a documentary also called The Smashing Machine, in 2002.
Trailer
The trailer for The Smashing Machine drops on Tuesday April 29, 2025.
The Cast
As previously mentioned, The Rock will star as Kerr. Emily Blunt will appear alongside as Kerr’s girlfriend Dawn Staples. The Smashing Machine will see Blunt and Johnson partner together for the second time after 2021’s Jungle Cruise. They will also star together in the recently announced Martin Scorsese directed film, which will focus on the life of a Hawaiian crime lord, played by Johnson.
Undefeated heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk will also feature in the film, playing Igor Vovchanchyn. Former Dutch MMA star Bas Rutten will play himself in the film. Several other MMA stars, such as Ryan Bader and Satoshi Ishii, will also play roles in the film.
When is The Smashing Machine Released?
The Smashing Machine is set to hit cinemas on October 3, 2025. It will open alongside Paramount’s Channing Tatum-led Roofman and Neon’s upcoming Oz Perkins horror film The Keeper.
