A24’s next film titled “The Smashing Machine” will feature Dwayne Johnson as legendary MMA fighter and UFC champion Mark Kerr. Benny Safdie, most famous for co-directing Uncut Gems with his brother Josh Safdie, will write and helm the movie.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, Noah Sacco of A24 said, “Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying. We are deeply honored to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life.”
The film will follow Kerr, who was at the peak of his career in 2000, as he deals with the stresses of fame, love, friendship and addiction. Kerr, 54, got the nickname ‘The Smashing Machine’ because of his aggressive and dominating fighting style. He has almost 20 MMA championships in his career, including two UFC Heavyweight Tournament Championships and a World Vale Tudo Championship tournament.
Kerr’s story was previously told in The Smashing Machine, a 2002 HBO documentary. Kerr’s rise and fall in the MMA world was covered in the documentary, as was his struggle with substance abuse, which resulted in an overdose.
Johnson, 51, is a former WWE wrestler who left the company in 2004. He just made a comeback and faced off against his old rival John Cena in a friendly match.