Benny Safdie is making his directorial debut with the A24 film ‘The Smashing Machine,’ featuring Dwayne Johnson in the lead role as MMA and UFC champion Mark Kerr. A departure from Johnson's usual projects, the film explores Kerr's life during the intense era of no-holds-barred UFC in 2000, delving into his struggles with addiction, success, love, and friendship.
Mark Kerr, a former American wrestler and MMA legend, boasts a remarkable career with two UFC Heavyweight Tournament Championships and a World Vale Tudo Championship.
The movie draws inspiration from Kerr's journey, documented in the 2003 HBO film of the same name. Seven Bucks Productions, co-founded by Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, along with Benny Safdie's Out for the Count banner, Eli Bush, and David Koplan, are set to produce the film. A24, a renowned production and financing company, has joined the project.
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Expressing excitement about the collaboration, A24's Noah Sacco stated, "Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying. We are deeply honoured to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life."
Benny Safdie, known for co-directing acclaimed films like ‘Uncut Gems’ and ‘Good Time’ with his brother Josh, takes on both writing and directing duties for ‘The Smashing Machine.’ This marks his first solo project, following his recent on-screen roles in projects like Showtime’s ‘The Curse.’ Safdie's collaboration with Dwayne Johnson on ‘The Smashing Machine’ began in 2019, with A24 joining as a producer and financier to contribute to the film's realization.
Dwayne Johnson is represented by WME, Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, and The Lede Company. Meanwhile, Benny Safdie is represented by WME, Untitled Entertainment, and Narrative.
-Farheen Ali
