Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine: All About the film based on MMA Fighter Mark Kerr
Published
The first trailer for The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson is here and it’s going viral! Fans of the actor can’t help but compliment how completely different Johnson looks in it. While the star is generally known for starring in big budget spectacles, it looks like he has completely reinvented himself for this role.
The film will focus on MMA fighter Mark Kerr and follow his life and struggles, especially with narcotics. The Rock was first revealed as the face of the film back in 2019 but production was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and also because he and director Benny Safdie became embroiled in other projects.
Want to know more about this gritty biopic? Keep reading because we will reveal the answer to major questions you have about the project. Also, bookmark this article as we will keep updating this space with new information when it’s available.
Release date and Where to Watch
The Smashing Machine will be released in theaters on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.
What is The Smashing Machine About?
The Smashing Machine follows Mark Kerr’s life. He is a mixed martial arts pioneer and was an active fighter during the late '90s and early 2000s. Kerr fought in multiple fight promotions worldwide, including Japan and the UFC before it became the behemoth it is today. The film will cover his first MMA tournament as well as his struggles with injuries and addiction.
It looks to be Dwayne Johnson’s foray into dramatic acting. He revealed in an interview with Variety, "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. 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."
As for the big blockbuster movies he is known for, he says, “I want to be clear not to say that this is an abandonment of big, four-quadrant movies. I love making them, and there is tremendous value and importance in [them] … but there’s a time and a place for them.”
What was Mark Kerr's Addiction?
Mark Kerr became addicted to painkillers. He was initially prescribed them so that he could manage the injuries he sustained during his career. However, he soon became addicted to black-market opiates. A 2008 ESPN article states:
“Injuries are doubly difficult for Kerr to handle, since he turned to painkillers to combat the pain and became reliant on them to the point where he was injecting black-market opiates.”
The addiction sent Kerr down a self-destructive path that created friction between him and his wife, Dawn Staples. Kerr eventually overdosed and had to be taken to the hospital. The ESPN article states:
“Now sober for more than three years Kerr has come a long way from the person whom viewers saw seeking drugs, shopping doctors and shooting drugs into his arm in the documentary (The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr).”
The article also emphasizes the pivotal moment in the 2002 documentary which saw, “Kerr breaking down as two friends visit him in the hospital to stage an intervention after the fighter overdosed on methadone and Valium in 1999.”
However, Kerr accepted that he needed help and so he stepped away from his career to go to rehab. After recovering from his addiction, he continued fighting till his retirement in 2009.
Why is Mark Kerr called The Smashing Machine?
Mark Kerr was a pivotal figure in the world of MMA. He was given the nickname “The Smashing Machine” for his brutal fighting style. He is a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, four-time ADCC World Champion, former PRIDE FC competitor, NCAA Division I champion, and World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner.
Cast of The Smashing Machine
- Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr
- Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples
- Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman
- Paul Lazenby as Hans Nijman
- Olga Dzyurak as Igor's Translator
- Yoko Hamamura as Kazuyuki Fujita
- Stephen Quadros as himself
- Paul Cheng as Masaaki Satake
- Cyborg Abreu as Fábio Gurgel
- Bas Rutten as himself
- Andre Tricoteux as Paul Varelans
- Marcus Aurélio as Mestre Hulk
- Satoshi Ishii as Enson Inoue
- James Moontasri as Akira Shoji
- Whitney Moore as Jacqueline
- Oleksandr Usyk as Igor Vovchanchyn
- Lyndsey Gavin as Elizabeth Coleman
- Ryan Ventura as Pride FC Ring Announcer
- Zoe Kosovic as McKenzie Coleman
Is There a Trailer for The Smashing Machine?
The trailer showcases Mark Kerr’s wins and also his battle with narcotics. He says, “Winning is the best feeling there is… There’s no other high like it in the world.” But he later asks for stronger pain medication. The trailer also hints at relationship with his then wife, Dawn Staples, which keeps deteriorating as he sinks deeper into his addiction issues.
Check out the trailer below:
Filming Details
Filming for The Smashing Machine began in May 2024 and concluded by August 2024. Locations included Los Angeles, Vancouver, New Mexico, and Tokyo, Japan.
Behind the Scenes
The Smashing Machine is written and directed by Uncut Gems co-director Benny Safdie under his Out for the Count banner. It is from A24 and is based on the 2002 HBO documentary by John Hyams called The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.
Producers alongside Safdie include Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia for Seven Bucks Productions, as well as David Koplan and Eli Bush. This film is also expected to have some crossover with the documentary.
Related
Most Popular
Most Popular