Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is swapping his charm for a new depth of intensity in new film, The Smashing Machine. The first trailer has been released, and it’s safe to say the actor’s appearance is leaving fans completely stunned.
The film’s creators unveiled the trailer on Tuesday, offering a glimpse of Dwayne as the renowned UFC champion Mark Kerr, complete with a dark wig and extensive facial prosthetics. He’s also adopting an Ohio-area accent, moving away from his iconic voice, to fully embody the character of Mark in the film. The trailer begins by showing a battered Dwayne as Mark, sitting in a doctor’s office with swollen eyes. “Probably looking at my eyes,” he asked a woman and her son. In response, she asks, “How did that happen?” The scene then shifts to flashbacks of the ring and brutal fights, with Mark explaining, “Well, have you ever heard of the Ultimate Fighting Championship? The UFC?”
Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE.
Trailer tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/JenvyUuFoe
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 28, 2025
The trailer provides a broad look at the film’s narrative, focusing on Mark’s journey as a UFC fighter while navigating his relationship with Dawn, portrayed by Emily Blunt. “Winning is the best feeling there is. It’s 40,000 people in there cheering you on,” he declares at one point in the trailer, further stating, “There’s no other high like it in the world.”
The trailer also teases Mark’s battle with painkiller addiction. Fans are captivated by the transformation for this role, eagerly awaiting its release, flooding the comment section with their enthusiasm. “Now this is the Actor ROCK we want. Oscars 2026,” one fan commented. Another wrote, “Whoever did the prosthetics and makeup for this movie is getting an Oscar. I hear The Rock kind of, but I don’t see him at all. Sheesh!” Real-life ring announcer Ryan Ventura also shared, “One of the greatest honours of my career was being a part of this project. October 3rd couldn’t come fast enough!”
Excited to share the official trailer for Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE, starring Dwayne Johnson and Academy Award nominee Emily Blunt.
In theaters October 3rd. pic.twitter.com/PmLIYnNWQM
— UFC (@ufc) April 29, 2025
Fans continued to express their disbelief, with comments like, “This doesn’t even look like him!” and “Wait, that’s The Rock? No way!” One fan remarked, “Yeah that ain’t Dwayne Johnson,” while another added, “I couldn’t tell if that was the Rock or another person acting like The Rock lmao.” A viewer noted, “The prostheses in the nose and brow are so subtle and yet he really does look like another person – and the body transformation, too.” Another exclaimed, “I didn’t even recognize Dwayne,” while someone else wrote, “It’s a unique compliment for The Rock when no one recognises him in a film. I’m glad he challenged himself for this role. He is phenomenal in this trailer and I can’t wait to see it.”
One user insisted, “Makeup department better get an award,” and another observed, “It seriously took me half the trailer to even realize it was The Rock. Incredible.” A comment read, “That is easily the most impressive prosthetic transformation work I’ve seen. I was trying to figure out when we were going to see Dwayne until about half way through, when the smile gave it away.” Another fan predicted, “He’s completely unrecognizable in this flick. Potential Oscar nomination,” with someone else commenting, “Unrecognizable is such an overused buzzword, but Dwayne Johnson really is legitimately unrecognizable on this one.”
Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr in ‘THE SMASHING MACHINE’, his first A24 film.
Directed by Benny Safdie. pic.twitter.com/QLdN8EHZ3a
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 29, 2025
Meanwhile, Dwayne Johnson brings to life the story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr in this film, which draws inspiration from the 2002 documentary of the same name. Mark Kerr earned numerous awards and medals throughout his career while grappling with substance abuse issues. The movie also delves into his relationship with his then-girlfriend, played by Emily Blunt, with whom Dwayne previously co-starred in Disney’s Jungle Cruise. Directed by Benny Safdie, this project marks his first solo venture as a filmmaker. The Smashing Machine is set to hit theaters in October 2025.
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