In 2019, Dwayne Johnson secured the rights to Mark Kerr’s life story to be turned into a film. But the project hasn’t really gotten off the ground yet, and many fans feared it would never become a reality. After all, Johnson recently seemed to have chosen a different career path. Although he played several roles, some serious ones, in projects as diverse as “Southland Tales” and “Game on Probation,” he seemed to be playing it safe for a while.
If you saw a Dwayne Johnson movie, you only saw variations of very similar characters: powerhouses with a sense of humor and a big heart. But with ‘The Smashing Machine’, Johnson is now fulfilling the wish of many of his fans to take on a dramatic role again. The part of mixed martial arts fighting machine Mark Kerr may be “his most dramatic role yet.”as stated by the industry magazine writes in his announcement. The project should please not only fans of former wrestler Johnson, but also many other cinephiles. That is up to the other parties involved:
“The Smashing Machine” – by A24 and Benny Safdie
What is it about? Who is this Mark Kerr? Mark Kerr, now played by Johnson, first made a career as a wrestler. When he failed to qualify for the 1996 Olympics, he switched to mixed martial arts, where more money could be made. Although initially met with skepticism, he soon proved his skills and won several titles. But for some organizers it also became a problem because the fighting machine eliminated the opponents too quickly – not good for the longest possible TV broadcasts with many commercial breaks.
Some of his best and most effective fighting moves, such as the headbutt he was famous for, were banned in an attempt to contain him. The tough, full-contact sport quickly took its toll. Kerr once even fought with a broken hand and took a lot of painkillers. He quickly became addicted to it. His addiction will likely be a significant part of the movie biopic.
Who else is behind the project? Benny Safdie has been quietly developing the project since 2019 with Johnson in the background. Safdie, who has recently become increasingly present as an actor in works such as ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Licorice Pizza’ and ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’, is best known as a filmmaker for the impressive dramas he co-wrote and directed with his brother. Josh – most recently this masterpiece “The Black Diamond” with Adam Sandler. Now the two brothers are going their separate ways for the first time. While Josh tackles another project with Sandler, Benny is responsible for writing and directing “The Smashing Machine.”
The film production company is now also on board, whose short name immediately makes the hearts of many cinephiles beat a few beats faster: A24 has become the favorite studio of all cinephiles in recent years because they produce quirky, interesting and diverse projects there, including a whole series of masterpieces. Films like ‘Ex Machina’, ‘Hereditary’, ‘Midsommar’, ‘The black diamond“, “Minari” and “Men” all come from A24. Above all, of course, the Oscar mega-success ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ made headlines. The 2023 masterpiece ‘Past Lives’ also comes from the indie studio.
In cinemas already in 2024?
It is not yet known when “The crushing machine” should be released. But since everything seems to be in place for the project, the official announcement should be a signal that it can start soon. A US theatrical release in late 2024 – perhaps even in the middle of Oscar season – does not seem unlikely.