Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is taking on a different form of fighting for his upcoming movie “The Smashing Machine.”
The first trailer for the A24 film was released on Tuesday, with Johnson looking unrecognizable as former UFC champion Mark Kerr. The role is a more dramatic one for the WWE superstar turned actor. He reunites with his “Jungle Cruise” co-star Emily Blunt, who plays Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples.
In 2002, Kerr was the subject of an HBO documentary, “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.” The doc followed Kerr’s life within the sport and touched on his use of painkillers and narcotics as well as his relationship with Staples.
Kerr is a former collegiate wrestler, two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and World Vale Tudo Champion.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Mark Kerr in “The Smashing Machine.” Photo: A24
Ben Safdie of “Uncut Gems” and “Good Time” is the film’s director and writer.
Johnson posted the two-and-a-half-minute trailer to his YouTube page, and fans quickly weighed in on how this role differs from the many he’s played in past films.
“FINALLY The Rock has come back…to not playing the same character & escaped the jungle, wrote one fan in the comment section.
“Finally a serious movie from The Rock. It looks and feels fantastic,” wrote another.
“Holy s–t, DJ actually looks like he put on an Oscar-worthy performance,” another weighed in.
“The Smashing Machine” is set to be released in theaters on Oct. 3.
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