Wrestling Star Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, Made His Feature Film Debut With The Film The Mummy Returns In 2001. (Photo Credit –Instagram)
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Can you smell what the Rock is cooking? Possibly another major hit. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is among the most globally loved and acclaimed movie stars. Known for his blockbuster box-office success and charming personality, Johnson is a true-blue movie star who might be onto a career-defining role with his next movie, The Smashing Machine, a biopic on the MMA Legend Mark Kerr.
It has been quite a busy year for the Hobbs and Shaw stars. He was starting the year with a monumental return to his origin as a wrestler in the WWE Ring. Johnson returned for his first professional wrestling match after 11 years away from the ring. Wrestling fans around the world have rejoiced because The Rock’s return brought a significant boost to the viewership. But it also gave wind to speculations that he may be taking a break from acting to return to wrestling.
That is not true; while Dwayne Johnson returns to WWE professionally, he is not taking a break from acting. In reality, he will film his much-anticipated movie, The Smashing Machine, very soon. Just after his first stint with the WWE, reports suggest that The Rock will return to his filming schedule and continue to go back and forth between shooting his films and wrestling professionally. He will soon return to his role as Hobbs for the final Fast and Furious movie, Fast X.
Dwayne Johnson Is One Of The Highest Paid Actors In Hollywood. (Photo Credit –Instagram)
What Is The Smashing Machine About?
Dwayne Johnson is all set to star in a movie about legendary MMA Ultimate Fighting Champion Mark Kerr. The film is based on a 2002 documentary by the same name. Uncut Gems director Bennie Safdie is taking on the directing role, and Dwayne’s Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt is said to be onboard and will play the role of Kerr’s wife. The movie will be produced by the award-winning production house A24, known for its projects like Uncut Gems, Priscilla, The Zone Of Interest, Lady Bird, The Iron Claw, and more.
Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock in DC’s Black Adam. (Photo Credit –IMDb)
The Smashing Machine Can Bring In a Big Career Change for The Rock
Dwayne Johnson is a superstar, and his stardom brings in many perks and a few disadvantages. While the Moana star is considered one of the biggest movie stars purely because of his Box Office success, he has never been considered one of the great performers.
Johnson’s filmography has a lot of hits, comprising significant action movies like San Andreas, Red Notice, G.I Joe: Retaliation, Skyscraper, Rampage, and more. He has also become the poster boy for high-octane adventure franchises like Jumanji or Fast and The Furious.
While his films have not brought in much success, there is a lot of critical acclaim for the star. But all of that could change with his role in The Smashing Machine.
This is one of the few times that Johnson has taken on a real-life role, and that, too, with a studio known for its cathartic storylines. With a director like Safdie at the helm and adding Emily Blunt’s acting prowess, this movie can help channel Dwayne Johnson’s The Rock persona in a way we have never seen before. Using their skills and his hard-built career in wrestling and channeling that in Mark Kerr’s biopic can help Dwayne Johnson, not just as a star but also as a performer.
If the movie does well, this could also mark a seismic career change in The Rock’s future, especially in how he chooses movies.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Upcoming Projects
Other line-up movie projects include the final Fast and the Furious movie, Fast X- Part 2, and the live-action Moana, which has yet to release date. Reports suggest that he will reprise his role in 4 sequels: Red Notice 2, Jungle Cruise 2, Jumanji 3, and a possible San Andreas sequel. According to reports, all these blockbuster hits are set to return for sequels with no exact release or filming date.
Reports have confirmed that The Smashing Machine will start shooting sometime in the summer this year, but there is no confirmed release date.
