The First Trailer for MMA Biopic 'The Smashing Machine' Shows Dwayne Johnson in Serious Actor Mode

A24 just dropped the first trailer for The Smashing Machine, a biopic of the MMA and UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Benny Safdie, free of Josh, is writing and directing, and Kerr is being played by Dwayne Johnson. You know what that means: The Rock wants an Oscar.

It’s a good trailer, showcasing the fighting skills of Kerr, hinting at his issues with pain and substance abuse, and we see Emily Blunt as that one SNL character of the boxer’s girlfriend who’s constantly worried about the next round. Safdie knows a thing or two about creating unbearable tension and sports movies, especially boxing/wrestling/fighting ones, are catnip to a certain demographic (read: Pajiba writers.)

But let’s be honest here. The most fascinating thing about The Smashing Machine isn’t the movie itself: it’s seeing Dwayne Johnson take on a dramatic role, and the inevitable cries of Oscar glory it has been eliciting for months.

Dwayne Johnson is a bona fide megastar of ruthless efficiency who has no qualms about letting the world know just how ambitious he is. He talks up his humble beginnings a lot to show how he hustled his way to the top through a combination of charm, talent, and sheer hard work. And few people in Hollywood work harder than he does. The man never stops. Why would he when it has paid off so well? He’s one of the highest earners in the business and one of its most beloved. For a while, his presence in a film was enough to revive flagging franchises and guarantee box office success.

Lately, that has somewhat declined. He hasn’t fallen on hard times or anything, but his films weren’t always doing as well as expected. Black Adam promised to radically rewrite the canon of the DC Universe but stumbled at the first hurdle. Red One was a ridiculously expensive mess that was written off as a joke well before its release (as well as allegations of unprofessional behaviour, one of which involved peeing in bottles, which he admitted did sometimes happen. Ew.) He still has Moana 2 and its upcoming live-action remake, so don’t cry for Dwayne.

But as I wrote in November, this is a celebrity in a period of flux. This is a guy who was so popular for so long that he bragged about how he could have totally run for President if he wanted to without ever giving a sturdy political stance or policy idea. He’s now gone back to ‘I don’t endorse candidates’ to keep people happy.

So, what do you do when you want to reinvent yourself once more and reestablish your clout? Oscar time! Okay, it is glib of me to categorize The Smashing Machine exclusively as an awards play but that’s also how everyone else is viewing it. It’s been called The Rock’s biggest chance at Best Actor from the moment the project was announced. And in fairness, we’d make that assertion regardless of whoever they cast. It’s a biopic about sports, drug dependency, mental health, and transformation. That’s Academy catnip.

It’s a good fit for Johnson. He’s worked out for it and is wearing subtle but transformative prosthetics to capture Kerr’s appearance (and disappear into the role in a way that will distance his star persona from the work.) This is a world he knows well. Plus, he has always been a good actor. Before he became a brand, he was putting in fun and interesting performances in stuff like Be Cool and Southland Tales. But the more famous he became, the more his roles were limited to ‘I’m playing myself but also please buy my tequila’ (a.k.a the Ryan Reynolds problem.) It made him an interesting celebrity but a boring actor. Now, he’s taking a big swing for the first time in years.

But of course, it’s also another sign of his ambition. This is a man who is going to turn Oscar campaigning into an art form. He’s going to be hungry for it. Eddie Redmayne, Jared Leto, and Melissa Leo combined wouldn’t be able to keep up with his ceaseless hustle. Just imagine Johnson doing the roundtables and talking about his process, nodding along with fellow candidates and sharing the secrets of his grind. Hollywood loves it when moneymakers pander to them.

It’s still only April. Cannes hasn’t even happened yet. Nobody knows anything about 2026. But predictors make big guesses months in advance for a reason. And when it comes to Johnson, I am fascinated to see the work both on-screen and behind the scenes.

The Smashing Machine will be released by A24 on October 3.