‘The Smashing Machine’ By Benny Safdie.
In December 2023, it was announced that a biographical sports drama film based on the life and career of former wrestler and MMA artist Mark Kerr was in development at A24, with Benny Safdie of the Safdie bros. directing and writing the screenplay in his first solo job without his brother Josh. Dwayne Johnson was cast as the lead, he was interested in Sam Kerr for many years and also held talks with Benny about making the film. In late February 2024, Emily Blunt (who was a key reason to the movie being made) was in talks to play Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples, and at the 96th Academy Awards, Johnson confirmed that Blunt would star in the film. A24 will distribute the film and Johnson and Danny Garcia’s Seven Bucks Production will produce alongside Safdie’s Out for the Count banner.
The film’s Logline reads: The Smashing Machine is a drama based on the story of Mark Kerr, the Legendary MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak o his career. He struggles with addiction, winning, love and friendship in the year 2000.
In May additional casting was announced; Lyndsey Gavin, Oleksandr Usyk (world heavyweight boxing champion), Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and Zoe Kosovic joined the cast.
The Smashing Machine is said to be Johnson’s Oscar role, it’s his first independent film since 2005’s “Southland Tales”. Johnson and Safdie first connected on the project in 2019, but fell out of touch and put the film on hold due to the pandemic. years later, on a phone call with Emily Blunt (Johnson’s Jungle Cruise castmate), Johnson opened up to her about his desire to reconnect with the project and play Kerr. after watching the 2002 HBO documentary “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr”, Blunt encouraged Johnson: “You must make this movie”.
When Blunt and Safdie spoke on the set of “Oppenheimer”, Johnson’s name came up, prompting Safdie to reconnect with Dwayne and continue pursuing “The Smashing Machine”. Johnson previously told Variety that he’s at a point “where I want to make films that matter, that explore humanity, struggle and pain[…] I’m at this point where I want more. I don’t mean I want more box office, I mean I want more Humanity”
Sam Kerr’s life was filled with achievements and substance abuse addiction— sounds like it could be prime material for Safdie’s brand of visceral cinema, after having made “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems” with his brother Josh. with the right script, Johnson can be a good actor, beyond the muscular physique, he has some acting chops, he just gets stereotyped a lot in playing the same character in action movies. I fully believe Safdie can bring out Johnson’s serious acting in the movie like he did with Adam Sandler in “Uncut Gems”.
Principal photography began on May 21, 2024, in Vancouver, Los Angeles, New Mexico and Tokyo. Filming wrapped early in just 3 months on August 7. It was being reported that the movie was being turned around in time for a December release— and that A24 would be ready to mount an Oscar campaign for the film. If all things go to plan, the film might release by Christmas 2024. Nothing is locked, but that’s the tentative plan. It turns out that Safdie, in between shooting days, has also been editing the movie, so that helps.
Johnson actually took time out from the shoot in May to travel to Cannes to discuss the movie with potential buyers. And it seems like his trip to the film festival to support A24’s sales launch has paid off. A24 has unveiled a raft of deals on the movie, key territories where the movie has been sold include; UK, Canada, Australia & New Zealand, France, Germany & Austria, Switzerland, Japan and many more.
Nala Sinephro is doing the music and Maceo Bishop is set as the cinematographer for The Smashing Machine, no release date has been reported, but Christmas 2024 or early 2025 is being rumored by some outlets.
