There’s been a meme going around for a while, in the form of a question: can you name the Dwayne Johnson movie from the Dwayne Johnson pic? Except,
There’s been a meme going around for a while, in the form of a question: can you name the Dwayne Johnson movie from the Dwayne Johnson pic? Except, each pic – from a different film – features him in an off-white shirt unbuttoned at the top, with cargo pants, and that eyebrow on display. The joke being, The Rock looks the same (and more or less plays the same character) in everything he does. But The Smashing Machine is here to disrupt that notion. Johnson’s latest film sees him team up with one of the Safdie brothers – Benny – for a gritty, burly A24 joint about the rise of UFC fighter Mark Kerr. It looks to be a transformative role for Johnson, teaming up with one of the most thrilling filmmakers of the 21st century. Watch the trailer here:
Blimey. Who had ‘The Rock goes full Raging Bull’ on their 2025 bingo card? This looks as intense and magnetic as you’d hope for a fresh Safdie joint, even from just one of the brothers – Josh is also going solo this year with the Timothée Chalamet-starring Marty Supreme. It’s been six years since the Safdies gave us Uncut Gems, off the back of the equally brilliant Good Time, so The Smashing Machine is hotly anticipated in many ways. And with Johnson pulling real character work for perhaps the first time since Southland Tales (with all due respect to the full-Dwayne blockbuster fare), opposite powerhouse Emily Blunt, there’s plenty to be excited for here. And for full avoidance of doubt: no, despite that star pairing, this is not ‘Jungle Cruise 2’.
The Smashing Machine is due in US cinemas in early October – stay tuned for UK release details, with this being an A24 release stateside. But that positions it as a possible Oscar contender. The race for The Rock’s little gold statue begins here.
COMMENTS