Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is going back to his fighting roots but taking them to the big screen. In A24’s The Smashing Machine, the actor and WWE pro wrestler plays real-life retired fighter Mark Kerr, delivering an emotionally complex performance for the first time in his film career.
Johnson was admittedly “scared” to tackle the role, he revealed on CBS Sunday Morning partly because, up until now, he’s had a reputation of being a box office champ rather than an experienced actor.
“For years, I’ve been dreaming and hoping,” he explained. “My desire was to play not only a dramatic role, but something that I felt like I could really sink my teeth into, and rip myself open. You hear that term. I just didn’t want to do drama. I wanted to do something that really allowed me to do that. … I was chasing something for a lot of years, and what I was chasing was box office. And there’s a part of me, the brain [that goes], ‘Don’t rock the boat. Stay in this zone. Everyone’s happy. You’re paying the bills.’ But the heart is like, ‘Yeah. But you’re not being fulfilled.’”
Here, News47.us has all the details you need to know on Johnson’s highly anticipated performance in The Smashing Machine.
The film explores the trials and tribulations of Kerr’s wrestling and MMA career. There is also a documentary of the same name that examines Kerr’s life.
I was chasing something for a lot of years, and what I was chasing was box office,” he said. “And there’s a part of me, the brain [that goes], ‘Don’t rock the boat. Stay in this zone. Everyone’s happy. You’re paying the bills.’ But the heart is like, ‘Yeah. But you’re not being fulfilled
Kerr is a former wrestler and MMA fighter who was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and a World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner. His career took him around the world to compete in various championships and competitions.
