The highly anticipated movie about Mark Kerr, titled The Smashing Machine, finally has a date for its release.
Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the former UFC and PRIDE fighter, the film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on October 3rd. Deadline was the first to report this news.
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 set to be released on the same day as Roofman starring Channing Tatum, and Oz Perkins` new horror film, The Keeper.
Based on the documentary of the same name, The Smashing Machine will explore Kerr`s journey from being considered a top fighter to his struggles with addiction later in his career.
The movie also includes former Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, who will portray UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman, a friend of Kerr`s.
Other notable actors in the film are 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 playing himself, just as he did in the original documentary about Kerr.
The Smashing Machine is being produced by the independent studio A24.
