A24 has revealed the first advance of “The Smashing Machine“, an intense film starring Dwayne Johnson who portrays the life of Mark Kerr, one of the most dominant fighters of the first years of UFC. Set in 2000, when mixed martial arts were still a territory with hardly any regulations, the tape promises to show the most brutal and human face of the contact sport. premiere It is scheduled for October 3, 2025 in the United States, and on October 9 in other countries.
The film is written and directed by Benny Safdie, known for his realistic and stark style in titles such as “The Curse”. In this project, Johnson undergoes a surprising physical and emotional transformation, incorporating facial prostheses and a marked accent to fully interpret the heavyweight champion. Next to him, Emily Blunt gives life to Dawn Staples, Kerr’s wife, contributing depth to the personal drama of the fighter.
The film that recounts UFC’s crudest origins
“The Smashing Machine“It is not limited to showing sports glory. Inspired by HBO’s homonymous documentary, the story goes into the chiaroscuros of Kerr’s life: his success as champion of Pride FC and ADCC champion, but also his battle against the addiction to analgesics and personal conflicts that marked their way out of the UFC octagon.
The trailer, musicalized with the iconic My Way of Frank Sinatra, offers a look at the rawness of the fighting, the extreme physical wear and psychological price paid by the pioneers of this sport still without polishing. The atmosphere, loaded with sweat, blood and neon lights, evokes an era where the show and survival merge into the same cage.
More than a story of overcoming, “The Smashing Machine“It is presented as an intimate exploration of the rise and fall of a man trapped between glory and the abyss. Johnson’s performance, away from his most commercial roles, aims to be one of the most intense of his career.
