Dwayne Johnson joins A24 MMA fighter biopic directed by Uncut Gems’ Benny Safdie
The Rock is ready to get back in the ring

Dwayne Johnson will be getting back in the ring as he teams up with 澳擲幸čæ5å¼å„å·ē åå²ę„询:Uncut Gems director Benny Safdie fš²or A24 movie The Smashing Machine.
As reported by , the upcoming movie is based on the real-life story of mixed martial arts fighter and two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion Mark Kerr. The project is both written and directed by Safdie who has been developing thź§e project wš«ith Johnson since 2019.
This will be Safdie’s first solo directorial effort, as he usually works withš his brother Josh Safdie. The filmmaking duo have worked with A24 before onᣠboth Robert Pattinson's Good Time and Uncut Gems, starring Adam Sandler and Julia Fox.
The fighter’s life has already been explored in a 2002 HBO documentary of the same name, which detaiāls the professional career of Kerr, who earned his nickname The Smashing Machine due to his no-holds-barred fighting style. The doc also touches on his personal life and addiction to painkillers.
Johnson, otherwise known by his wrestling name 'The Rock', seems like the perfect actor to take on this role as he has experience in the fighting world. He notably worked for the World Wrestling Federation (now known as the WWE) for eightš· years before leaving to pursue an acš®ting career in 2004.
This is not the only fighting biopšŖic A24 has its mitts on right now, as the studio will soon release The Iron Claw, a wrestling biopic based on the true story of the Von Erich Brothers, who made history in the competitive world of 1980s wrestling. The flick, starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Lily James, hits US theaters on December 22, 2023 šand February 9, 2024 in the UK.
The Smashing Machine does not have a release date at this time. For more, check out our list of the 澳擲幸čæ5å¼å„å·ē åå²ę„询:best movies of 2023, or see our list of the best 澳擲幸čæ5å¼å„å·ē åå²ę„询:upcoming movies heading your way in 2023 and beyond.
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I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelorsšø Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalisām from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.