Dwayne Johnson said The Smashing Machine has offered him the opportunity to stop “chasing box office” and break out of being “pigeonholed” into blockbuster roles.

The actor was speaking at the press conference for Benny Safdie’s Venice Competition title, in which Johnson stars alongside Emily Blunt.

“The three of us have talked about, when you’re in Hollywood, it had become about box office,” said Johnson. “And you chase the box office, and the box office can be very loud and it can become very resounding and it can push you into a category and into a corner. This is your lane and this is what you do and this is what Hollywood wants you to do.”

“I just had this burning desire and voice that was saying, ‘What if there is more and what if I can?’,” added Johnson. “A lot of times, it’s

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