Dwayne Johnson Looks So Unrecognizable In New Role That People Think It’s Strategic
Social media users are pretty sure they can smell what the Rock is cooking.
On Tuesday, the entertainment company A24 released a still from its upcoming film “The Smashing Machine,” which stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as real-life mixed martial arts champion Mark Kerr. And when the photo of Johnson hit social media, people were shocked by how different he looked.
First look at Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE starring @TheRock and Emily Blunt. pic.twitter.com/GVC2XIHwGV
— A24 (@A24) May 21, 2024
https://t.co/mxG5rmdf4cpic.twitter.com/cwfN1SEYVm
— Freddie Carlini (@_oh_freddie) May 21, 2024
Kerr co-wrote the “Smashing Machine” screenplay with “Uncut Gems” filmmaker Benny Safdie, who is also directing the biopic. Emily Blunt will play Dawn Staples, Kerr’s girlfriend. (It’ll be a reunion for Blunt and Johnson, who co-starred in “Jungle Cruise” in 2021.) The movie is set to release next year.
In 2002, HBO released a documentary about the former fighter, also called “The Smashing Machine,” that detailed Kerr’s problems with substance misuse and highlighted the early days of MMA, when the sport was significantly more brutal than it is today.
Following the reveal of Tuesday’s image, some folks on X, formerly known as Twitter, had a somewhat cynical take on Johnson’s intentions in tackling a role as meaty as Kerr’s life story.
Given that Johnson began his career in wrestling ― and that his time as an actor has mostly been spent in comedies, kid-friendly flicks and action movies ― some people saw his transformation for a more dramatic role as a transparent attempt to snag some sweet, sweet awards cred.
I don’t think we’re prepared for the level of annoyance that an Oscar campaigning Dwayne Johnson will produce https://t.co/9CV28AYF4C
— respectful volk han enjoyer (@JuiceThousand) May 21, 2024
https://t.co/2SZ0DKXUtXpic.twitter.com/mJkEQ6dEmP
— Brendan Foley (@TheTrueBrendanF) May 21, 2024
this is gonna be the rock's "Uncut Gems"
— Tahan 🪬 (@Lcy_Shen) May 21, 2024
Rock: “I need the best prosthetic team in Hollywood to make me look 45% different so I can get this Oscar.”
Bas Rutten: “Just get me a t-shirt.” https://t.co/3dKgJPNABp— “Tom”. (@NotThatTomGreen) May 21, 2024
I gotta admit, this was the smartest possible way for the Rock to beat the egocentric allegations https://t.co/EOmBmrCmQX
— Swiss Duck (@DuckySwiss) May 21, 2024
The Rock in A24 Film pic.twitter.com/1Wb1IK6veX
— 🅁ɪᴄᴏ 🄴sᴄᴏʙᴀʀ™ (@Mrgiveherback_) May 21, 2024
Dwayne looks totally different, bro's finally gonna act
— Sam (@samk0006) May 21, 2024
The rock’s first movie ever
— Exxon Moble!!! (@ryanjhibbs) May 21, 2024
Still, there were fans who defended the “Black Adam” star:
Film Twitter: “The Rock is always playing the same character! He’s so boring!!! 😭😭😭
The Rock: *Trying to do something different*
Film Twitter: “This is gonna be some Oscar bait bullshit, and I’m priming myself to be annoyed!!! 😭😭😭” pic.twitter.com/iqXvId0euA— KeN-K (@KenKRK) May 21, 2024
when dwayne takes the same action roles you complain, when he does something outside his normal wheelhouse you complain... sometimes you just can't win
— snausages (@lion_lynch) May 21, 2024
A movie with The Rock that I might finally have interest in. https://t.co/GiyWYosJqf
— 🎥 Adam Hlaváč 💿 (@adamhlavac) May 21, 2024
For those saying he can’t act, go watch Jumanji 2. He spent most of the movie impersonating Danny Devito pic.twitter.com/I86er7UJBU
— BitSaga (@bitsaga128) May 21, 2024
Whatever “The Smashing Machine” turns out to be, we can at least give Johnson props for matching the look of the real-life Kerr:
Now, will the role actually score Johnson an Oscar nomination? We have no idea. But we’ll let the Rock have the last word on that one.
