Hollywood star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson says a “burning desire” to push beyond his action-hero image inspired him to take on his latest role in The Smashing Machine, which premiered Monday at the Venice Film Festival.
The 53-year-old actor, best known for blockbuster franchises such as Fast & Furious and Jumanji, admitted that while he enjoyed making big-budget action films, the industry’s obsession with box office success had typecast him.
“I understood that, and I made those movies, and I liked them, and they were fun… but I just had this burning desire and this voice that was saying, ‘What if? What if there is more?’” Johnson told reporters in Venice.
Directed by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine sees Johnson take on a more nuanced character, portraying real-life MMA pioneer Mark Kerr. The story explores Kerr’s battles with addiction and his turbulent relationship with his ex-wife Dawn, played by Emily Blunt.
“The film isn’t about fighting. It’s a love story about Mark and Dawn and his relationship,” Johnson explained, adding that he had to bulk up at Safdie’s request to capture the fighter’s physique.
Blunt, who previously co-starred with Johnson in Disney’s Jungle Cruise (2021), praised his transformation. “One of the most extraordinary things was seeing him completely disappear. It changed the air in the room,” she said.
Kerr, now 56, was also present in Venice and lauded Johnson’s performance. “It’s almost impossible to describe just the amount of detail and everything that went into it,” he said, noting that even his son was stunned by the portrayal.
The Smashing Machine is among 21 films competing for the Golden Lion, the top prize at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, with winners set to be announced Saturday.
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