Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s newest film, The Smashing Machine, is more than just another acting credit—it’s the most physically and emotionally demanding transformation of his career.
Under the guidance of director Benny Safdie, Johnson gained 30 pounds of raw muscle and peeled back layers of vulnerability never before seen on screen.
But that transformation wasn’t just about muscles. It was a deep dive into character, addiction, legacy, and the raw truth of a man trying to survive himself.
In a revealing interview with Men’s Health, Benny Safdie shared how this role changed The Rock—and how the process changed him, too.
Here’s how the visionary director helped a global icon level up—and why that collaboration could change the course of Johnson’s acting future.
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Why Benny Safdie Chose The Rock for His Passion Project
When Benny Safdie first watched the 2002 documentary on MMA fighter Mark Kerr, he didn’t just see a compelling sports story. He saw pain, hope, and vulnerability—and envisioned Dwayne Johnson in the role long before the two ever teamed up.
“This was something Dwayne wanted to do,” Safdie explained. “And I understood Mark. I loved Mark. I couldn’t imagine not doing it.”
For Johnson, whose on-screen persona has largely revolved around being indestructible, portraying Kerr required going in the opposite direction: becoming emotionally breakable.
“Here he is, he looks invincible… and here he is asking me to bring out these other parts of him,” said Safdie. “I want to go there too.”
A Transformation Beyond the Physical
The physical demands of becoming Mark Kerr were extraordinary. Safdie didn’t just want Johnson to bulk up—he wanted him to embody the physique of a world-class freestyle wrestler from a different era.
“His legs had to be massive, his waist tight, traps wide—his entire build had to reflect the mechanics of wrestling,” Safdie said. “And the way muscle looked back then was different. Puffier, not just shredded.”
Johnson understood immediately. He overhauled his training and eating regimen to reflect that mass—not for vanity, but authenticity.
“Give me a certain amount of time,” he told Safdie—and he delivered, transforming scene by scene to reflect Kerr’s physical evolution over years of fights, addiction battles, and personal collapses.
Sculpting an Emotionally Raw Performance
What surprised Safdie most was not Johnson’s tremendous physical changes—it was his ability to inhabit stillness and pain within a superhuman shell.
“He was able to hide inside of that body and be very soft-spoken with his voice, emotionally inquisitive, intelligent—and also raw and angry,” Safdie noted. “That’s where the role became truly transformational.”
This emotional complexity was critical to the story. As Kerr, Johnson had to portray a man battling addiction and uncertainty while living in the violent spectacle of MMA. He had to be brutal in the ring—and lost outside of it.
Few actors can remain magnetic while unraveling emotionally onscreen. Safdie knew Johnson had that rare charisma—the same trait that carried Adam Sandler through Uncut Gems despite wildly flawed behavior.
Lessons from Legendary Directors
Safdie’s own recent acting experiences with directors like Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson gave him new tools for shaping The Smashing Machine.
From Nolan, he learned the power of creating a spontaneous environment to unlock freedom in performance. From Anderson, he gained invaluable insights on watching dailies and shaping performances in real-time—something Safdie brought into this project religiously.
“It allows you to be present with the thing you’re making,” he explained. “And you don’t have to let it all be for the end.”
Redefining Their Long-Term Collaboration
The connection between Johnson and Safdie was forged through trust and vulnerability, and it won’t end with one film.
The two plan to reunite for Lizard Music, a fantastical tale of sentient lizards and wild adventures—vastly different from The Smashing Machine, but requiring the same dedication to honesty and character depth.
“I could ask him to do anything, and he would find a way,” said Safdie. “That tells me we’ve only scratched the surface.”
The Rock’s Greatest Role Yet?
For fans used to adrenaline-fueled blockbusters, The Smashing Machine offers something entirely new: the chance to see Johnson expose his fragility, doubts, and ultimately his resilience.
“You need to love the guy,” Safdie explained. “Because you’re going to go on a crazy ride emotionally with him.”
And in that ride, audiences see a side of The Rock never revealed before—one anchored in pain, pride, and raw humanity.
It might be his most powerful performance yet—not because he’s the strongest, but because he lets himself be the weakest.
