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Putting it plainly, the stone Dwayne Johnson described for the late show the arduous extremes he faced to portray the MMA legend Mark Kerr in “The Smashing Machine”: physically and mentally taxing metamorphosis whereby he gained over 30 pounds of muscle and underwent 22 applications of facial prosthetics. He further shared about the intense emotional burden cast upon him ofliving out Kerr’s real-life struggles in addiction and survival.
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The wonderful chat between Johnson and Jimmy Fallon again spotlighted one of the rarest revelations on the making of the life story of Mark Kerr, the pioneer of mixed martial arts, who has literally traversed the gamut from triumph to disproportionate hardship.
Johnson said that there was a touching moment when he sat with the real “big guy” Mark Kerr, who was physically trembling throughout the viewing. It was very emotional due to applause that followed recognizing Kerr, who has survived two overdoses and stands as an inspiration,” said Johnson. “He’s lucky to be alive”-that’s what the movie is really about: overcoming adversity.
The transformation was gigantic pertaining to his body. In his own words, he stated he had to put on “over just over 30 pounds of muscle,” only to quickly add, “This wasn’t just a matter of putting on bulk. Mark Kerr had like just this quality of muscle, like fast, twitch quality muscle because he was a wrestler” Difficult was gaining so much mass whilst actually moving and acting like a high-level MMA fighter.
His transformation was, however, the least of his worries, as Johnson worked alongside Oscar-winning makeup prosthetics artist Kazuhiro Tsuji in applying 22 separate prosthetics that altered his appearance drastically. With this new persona, even the change in accent helped in making this almost unrecognizable. Remembering a conversation from which director-writer Benny Safdie once said to Johnson, “DJ, I don’t know how to tell you this… you’re going to have to get bigger,” Sehr certainly pushed him to his extremes.
The interview clip went viral and was much adored because it shone the spotlight on Johnson’s work ethic. An onlooker commented, “I just got back from seeing this movie believe it or not!! It was SO freaking good!! Dwayne and Emily did such a superb job!! They both deserve an Oscar 4 this there I said it!!” This is just the buzz surrounding the film and its journey to the awards.
Another user put into words what many have expressed: “So happy to see how much he’s grown.” This offers further validation for the appreciation now granted to the actor’s emergence from a wrestling and action star to a serious actor who embraces immersion deep into character.
One comment tried to make light of the forum with: “Who named Mark Kerr? Cardi B?”
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Clearly, this is an important landmark in Johnson’s career as he firmly steps into the dramatic biopic realm. The detail he gave about the physical and emotional work involved nicely opens the curtain on a film that intends to be every bit as real as it is impactful. The loudest cries of anticipation today surround “The Smashing Machine,” where a moving true story meets willing performance from one of the world’s biggest stars. Johnson’s journey into Mark Kerr is a profound tribute to his dedication to the craft and the powerful stories he wants to tell; this role might very well be the next milestone on an already gigantic Hollywood legacy. His recent skincare brand has also been receiving significant attention.
