The moment is here: The Rock has arrived on the Lido.
At a 2025 Venice Film Festival packed with cross-generational star power – from George Clooney, Julia Roberts and jude Law to Jacob Elordi, Emma Stone and Ayo Edebiri – Dwayne Johnson‘s arrival Monday for the world premiere of The Smashing Machine nonetheless made for a showstopping moment.
“This conversion was something I was really hungry to do,” Johnson said of his uncharacteristic starring turn in Bennie Safdie’s visceral drama. “I had been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had over the years and to make the films that I’ve made, but ther was just a voice inside of me, a little voice that said, ‘Well, what if I coudl do more – I wont to do more and what does that look like?'”
the Smashing Machine represents a daring leap from the top ropes for the actor, one of the biggest movie stars in the world, known for blockbusters and spectacle rather than stripped-down, emotionally driven prestige cinema.Anticipation for The Smashing Machine has been fervid amid Johnson’s legions of action fans and film buffs alike, while awards analysts are poised to assess the action star’s dramatic chops for Oscar potential. The drama was made by indie tastemakers A24 for $40 million, a fraction of the tentpole mega-budgets usually assembled around the action hero.
Written and directed by Safdie, The Smashing Machine stars Johnson as Mark Kerr, the legendary two-time UFC heavyweight champion and MMA icon. The story follows Kerr’s meteoric rise in the no-holds-barred era of 1990s MMA and the personal demons he battled outside the ring – including a harrowing struggle with painkiller addiction. It’s inspired by the real Kerr’s career (chronicled in a 2002 HBO documentary of the same name) and delves into his pain, addiction and struggle for redemption. Emily Blunt stars as Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples, bringing new emotional layers to the chemistry she established with Johnson in the Disney tentpole Jungle Cruise. Blunt is close friends with the action actor in real life and reportedly played a pivotal role in bringing The Smashing Machine‘s director and star together after meeting and connecting with Safdie on the set of Oppenheimer, in which they co-starred.
Johnson grew emotional as he discussed Kerr’s personal struggle, which he was entrusted to represent on screen. Kerr was sitting near the front of the crowd at the Venice press conference and became visibly moved during many of Johnson’s statements.
“mark was the greatest fighter in the world at one point, but this film is not even really about fighting – it’s a love story,” Johnson said, grow
Emily Blunt Played a Key Role in Dwayne Johnson’s Career Shift to Dramatic roles
Dwayne Johnson credits his freind and Jungle Cruise co-star, Emily Blunt, alongside director Benny Safdie, as instrumental in his decision to pursue more dramatic acting roles. Johnson explained that Blunt encouraged him to explore his personal experiences through his work, saying, “You know, there’s a place that you can put all the stuff that you have gone through as a kid.” He shared that he had been open with Blunt about his life,and she affirmed that acting was the outlet for those experiences,offering her support to help him make the transition. Safdie also provided crucial encouragement, backing the collaborative effort. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt-the-smashing-machine-venice-1235984999/
Johnson acknowledged the pressures of the film industry, noting how box office success can “push an actor ‘into a corner'” and dictate the types of roles offered. He admitted to previously taking roles that fit a perceived “lane” for him, enjoying some while acknowledging others were less triumphant. he further stated that it can be arduous to recognize one’s own potential when “pigeon-holed,” and that support from trusted colleagues like Blunt and Safdie was essential in recognizing his capabilities.
This support was notably significant as Johnson prepares for the premiere of the Smashing Machine at the Venice Film Festival.The film, directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, explores the life of mixed martial artist Mark Kerr and his partner, Dawn Staples. Safdie described the film as an exercise in “Radical Empathy,” aiming to deeply understand and portray the characters’ inner lives. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt-the-smashing-machine-venice-1235984999/
The Smashing Machine will be released in U.S.cinemas on October 3rd by A24. A premiere party is scheduled in Venice on monday night,with Safdie,Johnson,Blunt,and Kerr expected to attend.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt-the-smashing-machine-venice-1235984999/