Benny Safdie, Dwayne Johnson Team for A24’s ‘The Smashing Machine’ – IndieWire

Benny Safdie is readied to make his solo routing launching with A24’s “The Smashing Machine” regarding mixed martial arts competitor Mark Kerr.

Real-life WWE alum Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will certainly go back to his origins to represent Kerr onscreen in the biopic, recording Kerr’s increase in the UFC. Per the A24 news, Johnson’s most remarkable job yet adheres to mixed martial arts competitor Kerr’s job optimal throughout the “no-holds-barred era of the UFC” in 2000. Two-time UFC Heavyweight Event Champ Kerr’s fight with dependency, competitors, and his lovemaking will certainly be recorded in the movie.

A24 will certainly create and fund “The Smashing Machine,” which is created by Safdie. Lead celebrity Johnson and Dany Garcia’s 7 Bucks Productions will certainly create together with Safdie’s Out for the Matter banner, Eli Shrub, and David Koplan.

Johnson and Safdie have actually been partners on the job considering that Johnson’s 7 Bucks Productions obtained the legal rights in 2019. A24 has actually signed up with as a companion.

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

Kerr was formerly the topic of the 2002 docudrama additionally labelled “The Smashing Machine,” which outlined his mixed martial arts job combating in Vale Tudo, the UFC, and satisfaction.

“The Smashing Machine” notes Safdie’s very first solo endeavor as a supervisor. Sibling Josh Safdie is additionally setting out on his very own as a supervisor, helming the yet-untitled movie Adam Sandler Netflix movie established worldwide of sporting activities souvenirs collection agencies. Benny Safdie informed GQ that the Sandler function will certainly be the very first job not helmed by both bros, regardless of both Josh and Benny Safdie co-writing the manuscript.

“Elara is still there. We work on a lot of documentaries and there’s just a constant flow of ideas,” Benny Safdie stated. “It just felt like, OK, there’s things that I want to explore that don’t necessarily align right now with Josh. So it’s a divide and conquer mentality. He wants to tell this story, he can go and do that. I’m going to go and do a couple of other things. It seems like a natural progression for how things have happened.”

Safdie just recently co-created the A24/Showtime collection “The Curse” with Nathan Fielder and is currently concentrated on his very own job beyond the Safdie bros’ banner presently. Collection episodes are routed by Fielder and the Zellners, with Sadie co-writing all installations.