Dwayne Johnson Breaks Boundaries in “The Smashing Machine” Premiere at Venice Film Festival

In Benny Safdie’s solo directorial debut, Johnson transforms into MMA legend Mark Kerr, with Emily Blunt by his side, in a raw story about fighting, love, and self-discovery.

Venice [Italy], September 1: “It’s my first time in Venice,” Dwayne Johnson said with a smile as he carefully entered the room, greeted by an audience eager to hear about The Smashing Machine. The actor, beloved worldwide for his charisma and blockbuster roles, wasn’t here to promote another action spectacle. Instead, he was unveiling one of the most personal and ambitious projects of his career—a gritty drama that marks a turning point for him as an artist.

Johnson was joined by co-star Emily Blunt and director Benny Safdie at the film’s official press conference, ahead of its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival tonight.

The Film: Fighting Inside and Outside the Cage

The Smashing Machine tells the story of Mark Kerr, a ferocious UFC fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the 1990s. At the height of his career, Kerr was a dominant force in mixed martial arts—a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, Pride FC heavyweight champion, and NCAA wrestling champion. Yet behind his triumphs lay struggles with self-doubt, personal demons, and the complexities of love.

Johnson plays Kerr with a raw intensity, while Emily Blunt portrays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s girlfriend, who battles to find her place in the chaotic world of a man consumed by both glory and pain.

For Safdie—making his first film without his brother Josh—the 1990s MMA scene was irresistible. “There was something so experimental about what was going on,” he told the audience. “You had all these different martial arts colliding. It was violent, but also intimate. A close-knit community full of contradiction—and that beauty was something I wanted to capture.”

Dwayne Johnson: Beyond the Blockbusters

For Johnson, The Smashing Machine was more than a role; it was a chance to silence the voice in his head that kept asking, What if there is more?

“In Hollywood, it becomes about box office,” he admitted. “You chase it, and it can define you. I loved those movies—they were fun, some great, some not so much—but I always had this burning desire to push myself further as an actor.”

He credited Blunt and Safdie for encouraging him to step out of his comfort zone. “When you’re pigeonholed, it’s hard to break free. But when people you love and respect say, ‘You can do it,’ you start to believe it.”

Emily Blunt: A Woman’s Voice in a Fighter’s World

Blunt, radiant at the presser, spoke about the emotional weight of playing Dawn Staples. “There’s a whole world behind closed doors when you live with a fighter,” she explained. “The intensity, the eruptions, the devotion—it’s not a curated movie romance, it’s the real, messy spectrum of love.”

She praised Dawn for her generosity in sharing her story and described Safdie’s directing style as “visceral, spontaneous, with the guardrails off,” which allowed her and Johnson to explore every corner of their characters’ relationship.

A24 Release and Future Prospects

Produced by Safdie’s Out for the Count banner alongside Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia for Seven Bucks Productions, with additional producers David Koplan and Eli Bush, The Smashing Machine also features appearances from Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk.

A24 will release the film theatrically on October 3, a move that positions it as both a potential awards contender and a box office draw.

As Venice continues until September 6, The Smashing Machine is already shaping up to be one of the festival’s most talked-about films—not only for its brutal honesty in portraying a fighter’s life but also for marking a new chapter in Dwayne Johnson’s storied career.