The Smashing Machine (2025 film)

Last updated

The Smashing Machine
Directed by Benny Safdie
Written byBenny Safdie
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMaceo Bishop
Edited by
Music by Nala Sinephro
Production
companies
Distributed byA24
Release date
  • 2025 (2025) [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Smashing Machine is an upcoming American biographical sports drama film written and directed by Benny Safdie. It stars Dwayne Johnson as former wrestler and mixed martial artist Mark Kerr, alongside Emily Blunt as his then-wife. The film is set to be released in 2025 by A24.

Contents

Cast

Production

In December 2023, it was announced that a biographical sports drama film based on the life and career of former wrestler and mixed martial artist Mark Kerr was in development at A24, with Benny Safdie directing and writing the screenplay, and Dwayne Johnson in the lead role. [3] In late February 2024, Emily Blunt was in talks to join the film. [4] In March, during the 96th Academy Awards, Johnson confirmed that Blunt would star in the film as Kerr's wife Dawn Staples. [5] In May, Lyndsey Gavin, Oleksandr Usyk, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and Zoe Kosovic joined the cast. [6] [7]

Principal photography began on May 21, 2024, in Vancouver, Los Angeles, New Mexico, and Tokyo. [8] [9] Filming wrapped on August 7. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Johnson</span> American actor and wrestler (born 1972)

Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor, professional wrestler, and businessman. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on a part-time basis. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Johnson was integral to the development and success of the World Wrestling Federation during the Attitude Era. He wrestled for the WWF full-time for eight years before pursuing an acting career. His films have grossed over $3.5 billion in North America and over $10.5 billion worldwide, making him one of the world's highest-grossing and highest-paid actors. He is a co-owner of the United Football League, a member of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings—the parent company of UFC and WWE—and co-founder of Seven Bucks Productions.

Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau dramedy, is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. In television, modern scripted comedy dramas tend to have more humour integrated into the story than the comic relief common in drama series but usually contain a lower joke rate than sitcoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Blunt</span> British actress (born 1983)

Emily Olivia Laura Blunt is a British actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and four British Academy Film Awards. Forbes ranked her as one of the highest-paid actresses in the world in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Coleman</span> American wrestler and mixed martial artist (born 1964)

Mark Coleman is an American retired mixed martial artist, professional wrestler and amateur wrestler. Coleman was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first UFC Heavyweight Champion, and the Pride Fighting Championships 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix champion. At UFC 82 Coleman was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bas Rutten</span> Kickboxer, professional wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter

Sebastiaan "Bas" Rutten is a Dutch-American actor, former mixed martial artist, kickboxer and professional wrestler. As a kickboxer, he fought 16 times, winning the first 14 matches by knockout, 13 in the first round, and losing his final two fights, one of them against Frank Lobman for the European Muay Thai title in 1991, with Rutten losing by knockout in the first round. In MMA, he was a UFC Heavyweight Champion and a three-time King of Pancrase world champion. After his loss to Ken Shamrock in 1995, he finished his MMA career on a 22 fight unbeaten streak.

Mark Kerr is an American former wrestler and mixed martial artist. During his MMA career, he was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner, and a PRIDE FC competitor. In collegiate wrestling, Kerr was an NCAA Division I champion. In freestyle wrestling, he won gold and silver medals at the World Cup and silver at the Pan American Games. In submission wrestling, Kerr is a four-time ADCC World Champion, winning his weightclass twice along with the absolute division and the Superfight Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nobuhiko Takada</span> Japanese professional wrestler, actor and mixed martial arts fighter

Nobuhiko Takada is a Japanese former mixed martial artist, retired professional wrestler, actor, and writer. He competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) and the Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFI) in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming one of the highest figures of the "shoot-style" movement.

The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr is a 2002 American documentary film directed by John Hyams about the mixed martial arts career and personal life of Mark Kerr. The documentary is critically acclaimed for its sobering account of the brutal sport of early no holds barred fighting and the depths of addiction in which Kerr succumbs to and eventually overcomes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safdie brothers</span> American film directors

Joshua Safdie and Benjamin Safdie are independent American filmmakers and actors based in New York City, who frequently collaborate on their films. They are best known for writing and directing the crime thriller films Good Time (2017), starring Robert Pattinson, and Uncut Gems (2019), starring Adam Sandler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyborg Abreu</span> Brazilian martial artist

Roberto de Abreu Filho is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) competitor, academy owner and instructor. A 7-time World No-Gi Champion, Abreu is known for his trademark Tornado Guard position which involves inverting underneath the opponent and elevating them into a sweep.

<i>Good Time</i> (film) 2017 film by the Safdie brothers

Good Time is a 2017 American crime-thriller film directed by Josh and Benny Safdie and written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein. It stars Robert Pattinson as a small-time criminal who tries to free his developmentally disabled brother, played by Benny Safdie, from police custody, while attempting to avoid his own arrest; Buddy Duress, Taliah Lennice Webster, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Barkhad Abdi co-star. Electronic musician Oneohtrix Point Never composed the film's score.

<i>Jungle Cruise</i> (film) 2021 film by Jaume Collet-Serra

Jungle Cruise is a 2021 American fantasy adventure film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a screenplay written by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, and Michael Green. It is based on Walt Disney's eponymous theme park attraction. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti. It tells the alternate history of the captain of a small riverboat who takes a scientist and her brother through a jungle in search of the Tree of Life while competing against a German expedition, and cursed conquistadors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Bucks Productions</span> American film studio

Seven Bucks Productions is an American production company co-founded by actor Dwayne Johnson and his manager/ex-wife Dany Garcia in 2012. The company is involved in film, television, digital networks, and emerging technologies. It produces a variety of projects, usually directly in relation with Johnson's acting roles, and has grossed $4.6 billion at the box office as of 2024. Its subsidiaries include Seven Bucks Digital Studios and Seven Bucks Creative.

<i>Uncut Gems</i> 2019 film by the Safdie brothers

Uncut Gems is a 2019 American crime thriller film directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bronstein. It stars Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, and Eric Bogosian. The film tells the story of Howard Ratner, a jeweler and gambling addict in New York City's Diamond District, who must retrieve an expensive gem he purchased in order to pay off his debts. Filming took place from September to November 2018. The original score was composed by Daniel Lopatin. Uncut Gems is the last film directed by the Safdie brothers before dissolving their partnership in 2024.

<i>Stars at Noon</i> (2022 film) 2022 film by Claire Denis

Stars at Noon is a 2022 English-language French romantic thriller film directed by Claire Denis, based on the 1986 novel The Stars at Noon by Denis Johnson, starring Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwyn, Benny Safdie, Danny Ramirez, and John C. Reilly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elara Pictures</span> American film production company

Elara Pictures is an American independent film production and television production company founded by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, Ronald Bronstein and Sebastian Bear-McClard.

<i>The Curse</i> (American TV series) American black comedy television series

The Curse is an American satirical black comedy thriller television series created and written by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, and starring Emma Stone, Fielder, and Safdie. It was filmed from June to October 2022 and premiered on streaming and on-demand for all Showtime and Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers on November 10, 2023, before making its on-air debut on Showtime on November 12. Its first three episodes premiered at the New York Film Festival on October 12, 2023. The first season concluded on January 12, 2024, receiving critical acclaim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benny Safdie</span> American actor and director

Benjamin Safdie is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and film editor best known for working with his older brother Josh as a filmmaker. His directorial works include Heaven Knows What (2014), Good Time (2017), and Uncut Gems (2019). Transitioning towards acting, Safdie was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role in Good Time and has since taken on roles in films such as Licorice Pizza (2021), Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. and Oppenheimer. He co-created, co-wrote and starred in the television show The Curse (2023).

References

  1. 1 2 Goodfellow, Melanie; Wiseman, Andreas (August 7, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson MMA Fighter Pic 'The Smashing Machine' Scores Deals For A24 As Shooting Wraps". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  2. Williams, Jackson (June 8, 2024). "Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu Cast As Fabio Gurgel In Mark Kerr Biopic 'The Smashing Machine'". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  3. Gallupo, Mia (December 13, 2023). "Dwayne Johnson to Play MMA Fighter Mark Kerr in A24 Movie from Benny Safdie". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  4. Sneider, Jeff (February 26, 2024). "Exclusive: Emily Blunt in Talks to Join Dwayne Johnson in Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine'". The InSneider. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  5. Ramos Bechara, Diego (March 10, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson Talks Reuniting With Emily Blunt for New MMA Drama, 'Possibly' Reteaming for 'Jungle Cruise 2'". Variety . Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  6. Brown, Emily (May 21, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson is completely unrecognizable in new movie role leaving fans shocked". UNILAD . Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  7. Russell, Skylar (May 22, 2024). "Report: A24's 'The Smashing Machine' Targeting A December 2024 Release". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  8. Prasad, Sumith (March 2, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson's The Smashing Machine Starts Multi-Country Filming in May". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  9. Sharf, Zack (May 21, 2024). "'The Smashing Machine' First Look: Dwayne Johnson Transforms into MMA Icon Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's A24 Drama". Variety . Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.