Sitting in a luxurious hotel room in Beverly Hills, Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as The Rock, took nearly three minutes to detail the intense transformation he underwent to portray MMA pioneer Mark Kerr in the upcoming film The Smashing Machine. After completing his explanation, he turned to Kerr and asked, "How did I do, by the way?" In response, Kerr shared a poignant anecdote about his son, Bryce. Following a screening of the film in New York, Bryce called his father, whispering his thoughts almost hesitantly, "Dad, he walks like you. He looks like you. He talks like you." This heartfelt validation from his son moved Kerr to tears, illustrating the profound impact of Johnson's portrayal.
Transforming into Mark Kerr, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound former NCAA wrestling champion and MMA fighter, required Johnson to embark on a unique journey unlike any other in his acting career. With a busy start to 2024, including his first WWE match in over a decade, Johnson also committed to a grueling month-long training camp for The Smashing Machine, which is set to release on Friday. Each day on set involved a meticulous makeup process, taking three to four hours and utilizing 21 prosthetics designed by Academy Award winner Kazu Hiro to achieve an authentic look. Additionally, Johnson worked with a voice coach to adopt Kerr's softer, tender speech, leading to a performance that critics are already heralding as one of his best.
The film parallels the 2002 documentary about Kerr, titled The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr. Director Benny Safdie expressed his admiration for the original documentary and aimed to create a film that engaged with its narrative. Johnson, who met Kerr back in 1997, was deeply influenced by the shared experiences of loss they both faced in the wrestling and MMA communities, particularly the tragic increase in deaths due to substance abuse. "It was really just about Mark," Johnson reflected. "I wanted to write my own love letter to the men who were my friends that I lost."
As a fitness icon, Johnson often shares workout videos from his personal gym, the Iron Paradise. However, transforming into the physique of a heavyweight fighter like Kerr required a different level of commitment. Safdie and Johnson collaborated early in the project, discussing the need for Johnson to gain weight and muscle mass to closely resemble Kerr. Johnson humorously recalled Safdie’s suggestion that he needed to become "puffier," leading to a commitment to gain approximately 30 pounds for the role. This wasn’t a mere bulk; Johnson described Kerr as having a rare physique, characterized by fast-twitch muscle fibers and relentless energy.
Johnson's rigorous training camp began in April 2024, just a month before filming commenced. After completing a 12-week camp for WrestleMania 40, he dove straight into MMA training. His daily regimen included early morning cardio, weightlifting sessions, and intensive cage workouts lasting up to 90 minutes. Johnson documented his first day of training on Instagram, describing it as a "humbling, intense, and motivating journey into this world of combat and becoming Mark Kerr."
During filming, director Safdie expressed a desire to capture Johnson’s performance without cutting away during fight scenes, emphasizing the importance of authenticity. Johnson recalled an intense moment while filming a fight scene against Kazuyuki Fujita, where he took a real punch. Initially, the scene partner, a real fighter, hesitated to hit Johnson out of respect, but under Safdie's insistence, he eventually did, resulting in an authentic portrayal of Kerr's struggles inside the cage.
The film doesn't solely focus on the physicality of fighting; it also delves into Kerr's personal life, including his tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife, Dawn Staples, portrayed by Emily Blunt. Safdie approached these emotionally charged scenes with care, recognizing the need for a trusting environment among the actors. Johnson found these moments to be some of the most raw and intense of his career, drawing on his own childhood experiences of witnessing family conflicts.
Johnson entered the role with a profound respect for MMA and emerged from the experience with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by fighters. As he concluded his conversation with Kerr, the validation from Kerr's son was particularly meaningful. "If anybody on the planet can validate Johnson's performance, it would be my son," Kerr reflected, highlighting the emotional weight of Johnson's portrayal.
