The release date for the much-awaited Mark Kerr biopic, The Smashing Machine, has finally been announced.
Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the movie about the former UFC and PRIDE fighter will be released in cinemas on October 3rd. Deadline was the first to report the release date.
Benny Safdie, known for his work on movies like Uncut Gems, directed and co-wrote The Smashing Machine. The film also features Academy Award nominee Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples.
The Smashing Machine is scheduled to compete with Roofman starring Channing Tatum and Oz Perkins’ new horror movie, The Keeper, both also debuting on October 3rd.
Based on the documentary of the same name, The Smashing Machine explores Kerr’s journey from being considered a top global fighter to his struggles with addiction later in his career.
The movie also features former Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, who will portray UFC Hall of Famer and Kerr’s friend, Mark Coleman.
Other notable actors in the film include heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk playing Russian fighter Igor Vovchanchyn, Satoshi Ishii as Enson Inoue, James Moontasri as Akira Shoji, Andre Tricoteux as Paul Varelans, and former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten, who plays himself, reprising his role from the original Kerr documentary.
The Smashing Machine is produced by the independent studio A24.
