Emily Blunt, star of The Smashing Machine, has praised Dwayne Johnson for how deeply he immersed himself in portraying MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the new sports biopic. This film marks a departure for Johnson, allowing him to step away from his usual blockbuster persona during a period when he felt restless in such roles.
Reuniting with Blunt under the direction of Benny Safdie, the drama delves into Kerr’s pioneering role in UFC and the challenges he faces in his often turbulent relationship with his wife, Dawn Staples. This project contrasts sharply with Johnson and Blunt’s previous collaboration on the 2021 Disney adventure Jungle Cruise.
Johnson and Blunt Embrace an Unfamiliar Artistic Challenge
The Smashing Machine is described as a sports drama in the vein of Raging Bull, though it acts almost like a reverse Rocky, focusing on the psychological fallout after a fighter’s first defeat. Upon its Venice Film Festival debut last month, the film earned a 15-minute standing ovation, fueling talk of Johnson as a potential Best Actor nominee.
Blunt described the experience of working together again, saying,
“This really was a sort of leap into the unknown, for he and I,”
and adding,
“We’ve been trying to find something to do together again since Jungle Cruise, and I was hoping it could be something that would be very different, but this was the polarized end of what we had done together before.”
Johnson’s Dramatic Physical and Emotional Transformation
For his portrayal of Mark Kerr, Johnson underwent a drastic physical change, donning prosthetics that make him nearly unrecognizable. Blunt, having witnessed this transformation firsthand, applauds the actor’s dedication and shift toward more nuanced, serious roles.
She stated,
“More than anything, I’d been waiting for my friend to get the chance to disappear. He’s a man who can never disappear, and I could sense this restlessness in him, growing, this desire to do more, challenge more, and explore more within himself. I just knew there was this deep well of ability and of curiosity that hadn’t been fed. And I was so excited that this movie was like the Sunday roast of being fed.”
From Blockbuster Icon to Complex Character Actor
Johnson has openly expressed frustration about being typecast as a star in action blockbusters, a topic he addressed during the Venice press conference for The Smashing Machine. This film presents a new side to the Black Adam actor, one that embraces complexity and vulnerability over the larger-than-life hero roles that have defined much of his career.
With The Smashing Machine set to premiere in theaters on October 3, audiences can expect to see a bold new chapter in Johnson’s career unfold, potentially elevating him to awards contender status as he explores challenging themes and transforms physically and emotionally on screen.
