By Suchita Patnaha

Copyright sportskeeda

The Smashing Machine is a biographical drama film slated for release on October 3, 2025. Directed by Benny Safdie, the film features Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as the lead, portraying the former MMA fighter and mixed martial artist, Mark Kerr. It’s based on the 2002 documentary, The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.The narrative is based on the life of Mark Kerr, chronicling his troubled career during the sport’s unregulated early days (1997-2000). The story revolves around Kerr’s two-time UFC heavyweight tournament title and his supremacy in the ring, which contrasts sharply with his troubles outside of it, especially his battle with opiate addiction brought on by the physical toll of his fightsIt also explores his struggles in personal life, notably with his partner, Dawn Staples (played by Emily Blunt). The supporting cast features Ryan Bader playing fellow fighter Mark Coleman and Bas Rutten portraying himself. The movie has already received positive reviews from critics, and at the Venice International Film Festival, Safdie won a Silver Lion for Best Director.Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson portrays Mark Kerr in the documentary film The Smashing MachineDwayne Johnson at The Smashing Machine UK Special Screening (Image via Getty)Dwayne Johnson is portraying the two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, Mark Kerr, in The Smashing Machine. A professional wrestler himself, Johnson’s portrayal of the MMA pioneer is hailed as the most profound and transformative of his career. Johnson underwent a drastic physical and emotional transformation, including hours of daily prosthetic work and weight gain, to embody the UFC champion.Johnson, known for his captivating, blockbuster-action physique and persona, draws on his deep, personal understanding of the combat sports world, including the physical toll, the recognition and the intense pressure of performance. Dwayne Johnson began his acting career with 2001’s blockbuster The Mummy Returns, which led to his first starring role in the 2002 spin-off, The Scorpion King.Ever since, his career shifted from professional wrestling to a major Hollywood star, known for action-adventure blockbusters. Johnson eventually became one of Hollywood’s highest-paid and most successful actors. His notable performances include joining the Fast & Furious franchise with Fast Five (2011), voicing Maui in Disney’s Moana (2016) and the successful Jumanji films.Supporting cast of The Smashing MachineListed below are all the supporting cast and characters in The Smashing Machine:Emily Blunt as Dawn StaplesRyan Bader as Mark ColemanBas Rutten as himselfKenny Rice as Vale Tudo AnnouncerJerin Valel as Sergio BatarelliAndre Tricoteux as Paul VarelansJames McSweeney as Varelans’ CornermanJonathan Corbblah as UFC 1997 InterviewerIlan Rosenberg as Coleman’s CornermanNick Toren as UFC 1977 PhotojournalistJill Basey as PeggyBethany Brown as NurseRaja Flores as Dr. CortezRandi Lynne as ReceptionistSoichi Sato as Window Seat PassengerTakaaki Nagata as Taxi DriverJugo Hashimoto as Vespa DriverHaruo Tokashiki as Pride 1999 OfficialYasuhiro Nakatsuka as Pride 19999 Journalist #1Hiroko Taki as Small ShopkeeperOleksandr Usyk as Igor VovchanchynHironori Kamoshita as Pride 1999 Journalist #2Egidiyus Klimas as Igor’s ManagerYasuko Mitsuura as Pride DirectorShinpei Otsuki as Pride TranslatorOlga Dzyurak as Igor’s TranslatorTakeshi Kurokawa as Flight AttendantTomoka Kobayashi as Pride 1999 EmployeeTak Sasaki as Pride 1999 RefereeChris Franco as Igor’s CornermanTakao Osawa as Mr. SakakibaraMidori Takiya as Mr. Sakakibara’s TranslatorNaoshi Sasaki as Pride 1999 PharmacistZoe Kosovic as McKenzie ColemanLyndsey Gavin as Kelley ColemanRina Shimomura as Pride 1999 Journalist #3Royal Johnston as Gravitron OperatorWhitney Moore as JaquelineAdrianne Lovato as WaiterTomoya Naka as Pride 2000 PhotographerYûki Kedôin as Pride 2000 PhotographerJoshua Mazerolle as HGE Sparring PartnerJason William Day as HGE Sparring PartnerStephen QuadrosTomoyasu HoteiNala Sinephro as Star Spangled Banner PerformerSatoshi Ishii as Enson InoueYoko Hamamura as Kazuyuki FujitaRyan Ventura as Pride 2000 AnnouncerPaul Wu as Pride 2000 RefereeGary Copeland as Kerr/Inoue RefereeJaime Fair as Phoenix BarberJordan Greer as Ohio State Wrestling PartnerByron Capers as Phoenix Police OfficerEi Yoshikawa as Pride 2000 JournalistMark KerrAnnette Alvarado as Grocery Store CashierMarcus Aurelio as Mestre HulkRoberto de Abreu Filho as Fabio GurgelLance Gibson as UFC ContenderJames Moontasri as Akira ShojiPaul Cheng as Masaaki SatakeYushin Okami as Alexander OtsukaMarcus Vinicios as Ebenezer Fontes BragaAdam Santos as Ricardo MoraisChristopher Ackerman as Demolition Derby AnnouncerShawn C. Orr as Demolition Derby DriverBrett Randy Bourgeois as Demolition Derby DriverScott Meloshinsky as Demolition Derby DriverHugo Steele as FirefighterBrennan Walstrom as FirefighterThe Smashing Machine is set to hit the theatres on October 3, 2025. Stay tuned for more updates.