Dwayne Johnson brought The Smashing Machine to the Venice Film Festival, unveiling his portrayal of MMA legend Mark Kerr in a dramatic turn that emphasizes raw emotion over spectacle, as reported by the Associated Press .

At Venice, Johnson and the team highlighted a significant physical and emotional transformation for the role, with the actor focusing on authenticity to inhabit Kerr’s life in and out of the ring, according to The Hollywood Reporter .

Johnson also addressed how the project allowed him to break from expectations, saying he had been “ pigeonholed in Hollywood ,” a shift he’s actively challenging with this performance, per Variety .

He credited Emily Blunt for helping him access deeper vulnerability during the process, calling her his “best friend,” as he revea

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