Thursday, November 13, 2025 -The upcoming drama The Smashing Machine marks a major turning point for Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, and director Benny Safdie.
Johnson steps into the role of real-life MMA pioneer Mark Kerr—a two-time UFC Tournament Champion who battled addiction, fame, and a fractured relationship in the early days of the sport.
Blunt plays Kerr’s on-and-off partner, Dawn Staples, while Safdie directs solo for the first time, bringing his trademark rawness and realism to the project.
From all accounts, the film is less blockbuster spectacle and more gritty character study. Johnson has acknowledged that he felt "pigeon-holed" in action-star roles and viewed this film as an opportunity to dig deeper, expose vulnerability, and embrace a new kind of performance challenge.
Blunt, meanwhile, not only urged the project into existence but also helped shape its emotional grounding—she encouraged Johnson to take on the role and worked extensively to authentically portray the complexities of Staples’ experience.
Despite its ambition, The Smashing Machine is being billed as an “underdog” film—and not just because of its fight-sports subject matter. While it cost a reported $50 million, it is aimed at prestige rather than pure commercial performance, coming from indie auteur Safdie and distributed by A24.
The cast and crew are banking on the story’s emotional resonance and the transformation of its lead actor to garner awards recognition—even if the box office might be secondary to impact.
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