Dwayne Johnson Inducts ‘Smashing Machine’ Inspiration Mark Kerr Into the UFC Hall of Fame

Dwayne Johnson took some time out of his notoriously busy schedule to show great admiration and respect for the person he is portraying in the upcoming A24 film The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie. Just this past week, the stars of the film, Johnson and Emily Blunt, attended the UFC Hall of Fame Induction of Mark Kerr, whom Johnson portrays in the sports drama. The UFC Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor for those who participate in the sport, and having Kerr inducted right before the release of a biopic about his contributions to the sport feels fitting.

More than just attending, Johnson presented the trophy to Kerr, which comes with induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. Specifically, Kerr became the 21st member of the Pioneer Era Wing of the Hall of Fame, and the ceremony took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Emily Blunt plays Dawn Staples-Kerr, Mark Kerr’s first wife and a pivotal character in the film, which tells the story of Kerr’s early career and hardships during the early stages of the UFC sport.

Having Johnson and Blunt attend the induction ceremony further proves that the cast behind the film are invested in the real-life people that they are portraying. While The Smashing Machine may be about Kerr’s initial highs and lows early in his UFC career, it must be rewarding for him and Johnson, who has become so intimately acquainted with Kerr’s history, to see how far the athlete has come. Moreover, Kerr’s induction could pave the way for UFC enthusiasts to be interested in his career and check out The Smashing Machine when it hits theaters later this year.

‘The Smashing Machine’ Challenged Dwayne Johnson in a Way No Other Role Has

Dwayne Johnson is nearly unrecognizable as Mark Kerr in the first trailer released for The Smashing Machine, having transformed his physical appearance and used prosthetics to closely resemble the real-life UFC Hall of Famer. The actor, who has been known to star in numerous blockbusters with less substance than a film like The Smashing Machine, would tell Pat McAfee that he intended to explore material with more depth, which would prove to be a challenge for the actor. As Johsnon would say, his role in The Smashing Machine was all in service of doing something he’d never done before:

“I love making the bigger blockbuster movies. They’re a lot of fun. They’re hard as s*** to make, and a lot of people enjoy them—hopefully, knock on wood around the world—but I wanted more. I wanted a challenge, and I just wanted the opportunity to disappear into something and disappear into a part and a role that would really challenge me in ways that I’ve never been challenged before.”

The Smashing Machine is the first project that Benny Safdie will solely direct, as all of his previous films are ones that he co-directed with his brother, Josh Safdie. Interestingly enough, Josh Safdie is also directing his own sports film due for release in December 2025, titled Marty Supreme, which is loosely based on the table tennis legend Martin ‘Marty’ Reisman, with Timothée Chalamet playing Marty Mauser. It will be interesting to see how each director’s project turns out upon release without relying on each other’s collaboration.

Source: Pat McAfee Show

The Smashing Machine

Release Date

October 3, 2025

Director

Benny Safdie

Writers

Benny Safdie

Producers

Beau Flynn, David Koplan, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Tracey Landon