Dwayne Johnson recently opened up about his "raw and gritty" turn in the upcoming highly anticipated biopic The Smashing Machine.
After years of starring in action movies, Johnson is making a massive career pivot with his dramatic transformation as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, which is being positioned as an awards contender. Fans have been curious to see how the wrestler-turned-actor's new role will turn out and whether this is indeed the sign of a new chapter in his career.
Why Did Dwayne Johnson Decide to Star in The Smashing Machine?
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Johnson opened up about his upcoming dramatic transformation in The Smashing Machine. He shared that he wasn't getting more "raw and gritty" roles since he was "too scared" to play vulnerable parts.
"It was very real. I had not experienced that in a very, very, very long time, where I was really scared and thinking, I don’t know if I can do this. Can I do this?" he said.
"I realized that maybe these opportunities weren’t coming my way because I was too scared to explore this stuff."
Johnson continued, "I was so hungry for an opportunity to do something raw and gritty and rip myself open. And all of a sudden, Smashing Machine comes along."
In terms of the preparation for the role, Johnson shared that he had over a dozen prosthetics to transform into Mark Kerr in the film.
"I just sat in front of that mirror for three to four hours and watched it all change. There were about 13 or 14 different prosthetics. Subtle, yet I think very impactful. By the time I got to set, I was Mark Kerr and I felt it, from how he walked to how he talked and how he looked at life," he said.
What to Expect in The Smashing Machine
The Smashing Machine tells the story of legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Benny Safdie wrote and directed the film.
Aside from Johnson, the cast also includes Emily Blunt, Ryan Rader, Bas Rutten, Oleksandr Usyk, and Lyndsey Gavin. The project hails from A24, marking Johnson's first collaboration with the indie powerhouse.
The film is currently slated for release in North American theaters on October 3. However, it will have its world premiere this September 1 at the Venice International Film Festival as one of the main entries.
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