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 in recent times. On the inaugural BMF title occasion at UFC 244, Johnson wrapped the belt round Jorge Masvidal after his victory towards Nate Diaz at Madison Sq. Backyard.
However, avid MMA fandom couldn’t’ve ready Johnson for the tall process of taking part in MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, an A24 movie set to launch subsequent yr. 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 is not any stranger to bodily transformations, however he admits the problem of embracing Kerr’s character was a novel 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 current 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 anyone who continues to be alive,” Johnson defined. “Somebody who has gone via the battles and wars of life. Not solely within the Octagon and within the cages, but in addition about habit, failure, loss, psychological well being wrestle.
“And that’s the bug that I bought bit by and pondering: ‘Oh, that is what I need 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, continues to be grinding in his performing profession. This yr alone, he’s starred in current releases like Moana 2 and Purple One.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson performs Mark Kerr in ‘The Smashing Machine’
Kerr fought in Satisfaction and the UFC throughout his memorable fight sports activities profession. He’s widely known as a UFC pioneer, successful 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 Workforce Trials.
Johnson and Kerr have related 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 another movie he’s starred in beforehand, together with a number of award-winning performances.
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