The Smashing Machine has its debut trailer and with it provides a first look at Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as legendary former UFC star Mark Kerr.
The trailer, below, reveals Johnson’s portrayal of the life and career of Mark Kerr, a former wrestler and UFC star who struggled with substance abuse. Emily Blunt plays Kerr’s then-wife, Dawn Staples. Uncut Gems co-director Benny Safdie is the writer and director of the A24 film, which hits theaters October 3, 2025.
Johnson is almost unrecognizable as Kerr. He does not have his tattoos, but he does have hair. You can see how Johnson compares to Kerr below.
This film is being adapted from the 2002 documentary called The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, and will dive deep into the former wrestler and MMA athlete’s life in the UFC and beyond, including his “struggles with addiction, winning, love, and friendship in the year 2000.”
The Smashing Machine may mark a big moment in Johnson’s career, as it looks to be his grand entrance into the world of dramatic acting.
“I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past,” Johnson told Variety. “I’m at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter, that explore a humanity, and explore struggle [and] pain.”
Johnson is of course best known for his big budget action movie roles, including Black Adam, the Jumanji films, and the Fast & Furious films.
“I want to be clear not to say that this is an abandonment of big, four-quadrant movies,” Johnson added. “I love making them, and there is tremendous value and importance in [them]… but there’s a time and a place for them.
“I’m at this point in my career where I want more. And I don’t mean I want more box office. I mean, I want more humanity. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me.”
Johnson is set to reprise his animated Disney role as Maui in the live-action Moana film, due out next year.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
