Tag: Mark Kerr

‘The Smashing Machine’ earns two Golden Globe nominations

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: A24

While Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s film ‘The Smashing Machine’ didn’t knock out the box office this year, it did garner two cast members with awards nominations.

Announced on Monday morning, both Johnson and co-star Emily Blunt earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Male Actor in a motion picture drama and Best Supporting Female Actor in a motion picture, respectively.

The awards ceremony is set for January 11, 2026.

In the A24 film, Johnson played former UFC/MMA star Mark Kerr in the biopic with Blunt playing his girlfriend, Dawn Staples.

Released in October, the film did just over $21 million at the box office worldwide which was seen as a disappointment. Johnson — something Johnson claimed he never thought about at all.

Johnson’s usual busy slate will continue as the live action ‘Moana’ for Disney is in post-production while he is currently filming ‘Jumanji 3.’ Pre-production projects include an untitled film by Martin Scorcese, ‘Fast X: Part 2’, ‘The King’, and ‘Lizard Music’ among others.

The TKO Board members hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since earlier this year, but always could be a surprise guest at John Cena’s final match this Saturday in Washington, DC.

Mark Kerr announced for UFC Hall of Fame, The Rock to attend ceremony

Posted on by Josh Nason

With a movie on his life coming out in October, it was fitting that MMA legend Mark Kerr was announced as the final entrant into this year’s UFC Hall of Fame class.

That is why it’s also fitting that the man playing him in that movie — Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson — will also be in attendance for the ceremony.

Kerr’s induction was revealed during Saturday’s UFC 316. Lead announcer Jon Anik said that Johnson, a member of TKO’s board, would be there for the ceremony to be held on Thursday, June 26th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be part of this year’s International Fight Week.

Kerr joins Vitor Belfort, Robbie Lawler, Craig Piligian, and Amanda Nunes in this year’s class.

Kerr, the heavyweight tournament winner of both UFC 14 and UFC 15, will be inducted as the 21st member of the Pioneer Era wing which honors fighters who turned pro before November 17, 2000; are 35 years old; and have been retired for a year or more.

“The Smashing Machine” comes out in theaters on Friday, October 3rd. Johnson plays Kerr while Emily Blunt plays his girlfriend, Dawn Staples.

Guests of honor announced for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Combat icons are set to be the guests of honor at Bloodsport XIII next week.

Josh Barnett announced on social media that Tank Abbott, Don Frye, Dan Severn, Butterbean, and Mark Kerr would be in attendance in Las Vegas next Thursday for the thirteenth edition of Bloodsport, a combat sports-themed event. The guests of honor will also be appearing at WrestleCon for meet and greets next Friday and Saturday.

Everyone except Kerr has a professional wrestling background. Abbott had a short, but infamous run in WCW while Frye competed in Japan. Severn is a former NWA World Champion, while Butterbean knocked out Bart Gunn quickly in a Brawl for All match at WrestleMania XV.

A biographical film on Kerr, The Smashing Machine, is set to be released in theatres in October with The Rock starring.

Bloodsport XIII final card | Thursday, April 17 | The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada | Triller+

  • Tavion Heights vs. Royce Issacs
  • Josh Barnett vs. Gabe Kidd
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jonathan Gresham
  • Karrion Kross vs. JR Kratos
  • Shayna Baszler vs. Konami
  • Natalya vs. Miyu Yamashita
  • Pete Dunne vs. Timothy Thatcher
  • Leyla Hirsch vs. Jordan Blade
  • Charlie Dempsey vs. Shinya Aoki
  • Karmen Petrovic vs. Maika

The Rock-led ‘Smashing Machine’ movie sets theatrical release date

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: WWE

The theatrical release date for The Smashing Machine led by Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson is now official.

A24 announced Wednesday that the movie based on the life of former MMA/UFC star Mark Kerr will hit theaters on Friday, October 3rd of this year.

The film is directed and written by Bennie Safdie and also stars Emily Blunt who Johnson has appeared alongside in Disney’s Jungle Cruise.

From the Deadline news on the release date:

“(The movie) follows Kerr (Johnson) from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career as he questions himself and struggles with life and his relationships. Meanwhile, Mark’s girlfriend Dawn Staples (Blunt) struggles as well to find her place in Mark’s chaotic and contradictory world.”

The 56-year-old Kerr was an NCAA Division I amateur wrestling champion in addition to other global tournaments. He won two of the early UFC heavyweight tournaments (UFC 14 and 15) and also competed in PRIDE. He last fought in August 2009 and ended his career on a five-fight losing streak.

He was the focus of a 2002 documentary of the same name.

The first image of Johnson playing Kerr came out nearly a year ago. He suffered an elbow injury while filming the movie which he chalked up to soft tissue damage.

First look at The Rock as MMA legend Mark Kerr in ‘The Smashing Machine’

Posted on by Ian Carey

A first look at The Rock in the upcoming film “The Smashing Machine” has been revealed.

Rock, who plays MMA legend Mark Kerr in the movie, posted an image from its first day of production to Instagram on Tuesday. Emily Blunt, who also appeared in 2021’s Jungle Cruise with The Rock, can be seen in the photo as well. She plays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s wife.

“First look at Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE starring @therock and Emily Blunt. #day1 #startofproduction #thesmashingmachine,” Rock captioned his post with. A24 Films also posted the image to X.

Benny Safdie wrote the script for the film, which shares its name with the well-reviewed 2002 documentary on Kerr’s career and struggles with addiction to pain medication. The project was first announced in 2019, with Kerr having given it his blessing. Filming locations are set for Vancouver, Los Angeles, New Mexico, and Tokyo, Japan. Filming is expected to be completed by August 1, 2024.

The Rock to play MMA legend Mark Kerr in biopic ‘The Smashing Machine’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has signed on to play the role of MMA legend Mark Kerr.

A24 Films, the company behind Iron Claw, announced on Monday that they will work with Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions to produce a movie based on Kerr’s life. Seven Bucks Productions originally announced plans for the film in 2019, with Kerr having given the project his blessing. 

The film will borrow the name of a 2002 HBO documentary on Kerr titled, “The Smashing Machine,” which covered his career and struggle with addiction to pain medication.  

Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) will serve as writer and director for the film.

“Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying. We are deeply honored to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life,” said A24’s Noah Sacco.

Kerr won the UFC 14 & 15 tournaments and was a regular with Pride FC from 1998 to 2001. 

The Rock announces plans for movie on former MMA star Mark Kerr

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: Sherdog

At a Friday press conference in New York City, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced he and his Seven Bucks Productions company are going to create a movie about former UFC star Mark Kerr.

Kerr, a former NCAA Division 1 championship wrestler, was one of the early pioneers of the sport and competed in the UFC four times (all in 1997) before moving onto PRIDE and other organizations. He retired in 2009.

Kerr’s story was told in the well-recieved 2002 HBO documentary “The Smashing Machine: The Life & Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr” that covered his career and struggles fighting painkillers.

The movie will be a scripted one and the 50-year-old Kerr will be involved, giving the project his blessing. Johnson didn’t announce any details about the anticipated release date of the movie. Seven Bucks Productions released this year’s “Fighting With My Family”, a biopic of now-retired WWE women’s star Paige.

Johnson is in town for Saturday’s UFC 244, presenting the BMF title to the winner of Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz.