Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Transforms into Mark Kerr for “The Smashing Machine”
In a recent interview, Dwayne Johnson shared details about his transformation to play the legendary MMA fighter, Mark Kerr, in the film “The Smashing Machine.” For almost three minutes, Johnson explained the meticulous process he followed to adopt Kerr’s mindset and physique, culminating in a direct question to Kerr himself: “How did I do it, by the way?”
Kerr’s response was an emotional anecdote about his son, Bryce, who saw the film and was struck by Johnson’s performance. Bryce, almost whispering, said to his father: “Dad, he walks like you. He looks like you. He talks like you”. This confirmation of Johnson’s transformation was a moment of great emotion for Kerr.
“Dad, it even has your heart.”
Bryce Kerr
The preparation for the role was an unprecedented challenge in Johnson’s career. In addition to his return to WWE, the actor underwent a rigorous month-long training for the A24 production, which will be released on Friday.
Each day on set involved up to four hours of makeup and the application of 21 prosthetics, created by Oscar winner Kazu Hiro, to achieve Johnson’s physical transformation. In addition, he worked with a voice coach to imitate Kerr’s soft and characteristic voice.
The result has been acclaimed by critics, who have praised Johnson’s performance as one of the best of his career, becoming almost unrecognizable on the big screen.The film explores a period similar to that of the 2002 documentary about Kerr, “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr”. Director Benny Safdie sought to create a work that directly engaged with the original documentary.
Johnson, for his part, focused on paying tribute to the friends he lost due to drugs and the problems that affected MMA and wrestling fighters at the time. He met Kerr around 1997, and both witnessed the increase in deaths of wrestlers due to the use of pills and drugs. “It was really about Mark,” Johnson said. “And I just wanted to write my own love letter to the men who were my friends and who I lost. And also to [Mark]’s.”
Johnson’s physical transformation was another key aspect. Kerr, who competed in the heavyweight division, is described by Johnson as “a beast.” Safdie instructed Johnson that he needed to increase his muscle mass. Johnson replied that he needed to gain between 25 and 30 pounds for the role, and ultimately gained approximately 30 pounds.
Johnson described Kerr’s body as “unique”, highlighting his fast-twitch muscle fibers and inexhaustible stamina. To achieve this transformation, Johnson underwent an MMA training camp, training with real trainers and fighters.Johnson’s training began in April 2024, a month before filming started. The actor shared his experience on Instagram, describing it as a “humbling, intense, and motivating journey” into the world of combat.
The cage fights were crucial to the film. Safdie wanted to avoid cuts during the fight scenes, relying on Johnson’s skill. During a fight scene with Kazuyuki Fujita, Johnson took a real hit, describing the feeling as “being hit by a real fighter several times.”
The actor, who is also a real fighter, initially refused to hit Johnson, but Safdie convinced him, recreating a moment from the Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals. The scene highlighted the team’s commitment to authenticity.
Johnson’s preparation was not limited to the physical. He studied Kerr’s way of walking and speaking, seeking to convey his confidence on screen. The actor immersed himself in Kerr’s mind to understand him better.
The film also addresses the complexities of Kerr’s relationship with his ex-wife, Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt. Safdie treated these scenes as emotional battles, creating an environment of trust among the actors.
These scenes, which Johnson described as “raw” and “intense”, were filmed in a single take. The actor was inspired by his parents’ arguments when he was a child. Johnson entered the role with a deep respect for MMA and left with something more: the definitive validation of his performance.
