Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson didn’t hesitate to tackle the steep problem of taking part in a beloved MMA icon within the upcoming movie entitled The Smashing Machine.
Johnson’s curiosity in MMA has surged lately. On the inaugural BMF title occasion at UFC 244, Johnson wrapped the belt round Jorge Masvidal after his victory in opposition to Nate Diaz at Madison Sq. Backyard.
However, avid MMA fandom couldn’t’ve ready Johnson for the tall activity of taking part in MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, an A24 movie set to launch subsequent 12 months. The film covers the historical past, out and in of the cage, of Kerr at some extent when MMA was struggling to realize international relevancy.
Johnson isn’t any stranger to bodily transformations, however he admits the problem of embracing Kerr’s character was a singular one. The WWE wrestling famous person needed to be taught the ins and outs of MMA to painting Kerr successfully.
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson opens up on ‘The Smashing Machine’ portrayal
In a latest interview with GQ, Johnson defined why he accepted the problem of taking part in an MMA legend, particularly one with Kerr’s roller-coaster life story.
“I knew this was a possibility to vanish into a personality, with prosthetics, and likewise play any individual who remains to be alive,” Johnson defined. “Somebody who has gone by way of the battles and wars of life. Not solely within the Octagon and within the cages, but in addition about dependancy, failure, loss, psychological well being battle.
“And that’s the bug that I obtained bit by and pondering: ‘Oh, that is what I wish to do!’…to problem myself in ways in which I hadn’t been challenged.
“The place the fabric is deeper, it permits me to sink my tooth into one thing deeper, richer.”
Johnson, regardless of his immense Hollywood success, remains to be grinding in his performing profession. This 12 months alone, he’s starred in latest releases like Moana 2 and Purple One.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson performs Mark Kerr in ‘The Smashing Machine’
Kerr fought in Pleasure and the UFC throughout his memorable fight sports activities profession. He’s well known as a UFC pioneer, profitable two heavyweight tournaments over the likes of Dan Bobish and Dwayne Cason.
Kerr retired from MMA in 2009 after a first-round knockout loss to Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal at M-1 International: Breakthrough. All through his profession, he struggled with an addiction to painkillers, as highlighted within the HBO documentary The Smashing Machine.
Earlier than making the transfer from the wrestling mats to the cage, Kerr was a drive in collegiate wrestling, main Syracuse to an NCAA Division I nationwide championship in 1992. He additionally earned victories on the 1993 and 1994 USA Wrestling World Staff Trials.
Johnson and Kerr have comparable bodily attributes and aggressive backgrounds, however their similarities didn’t make it any simpler for Johnson to tackle the function. Regardless of the immense challenges, Johnson needed to problem himself, in contrast to some other movie he’s starred in beforehand, together with a number of award-winning performances.
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