Dwayne Johnson has left fans stunned with his new role in The Smashing Machine. The first trailer for the film was released on Tuesday. In the clip, Johnson looks nothing like himself. He plays real-life MMA legend Mark Kerr and wears heavy makeup, including facial prosthetics and a dark wig. He also changes his voice, adopting an Ohio accent to fully become the character.

An Intense Introduction

The trailer begins with a bruised Johnson sitting in a clinic. His character, Mark Kerr, speaks to a woman and her son. “Probably looking at my eyes,” he says, as they stare at his swollen face. She then asks, “How did that happen?”

Right after, the video shows flashbacks from brutal UFC fights. Kerr responds, “Well, have you ever heard of the Ultimate Fighting Championship? The UFC?”

A Glimpse into Mark Kerr’s Life

The trailer gives a deeper look at the story. Viewers get a sense of Mark’s rise in UFC and his personal struggles. The film shows his emotional bond with his girlfriend Dawn, played by Emily Blunt. At one point, Johnson says, “Winning is the best feeling there is. It's 40,000 people in there cheering you on. There's no other high like it in the world.”

Besides the fights, the trailer hints at the darker side of Kerr’s journey. It touches on his battle with painkiller addiction and how it affects his life.

Fans React to Johnson’s Incredible Makeover

Fans flooded the comment section with praise. Many said they couldn’t recognize Johnson at all.
"Now this is the Actor ROCK we want [red heart emoji] Oscars 2026," one fan wrote. Another commented, “Whoever did the prosthetics and makeup for this movie is getting an Oscar. I hear the Rock kind of, but I don’t see him at all. Sheesh that’s (fire emoji).” Real-life ring announcer Ryan Ventura shared his excitement too. “One of the greatest honours of my career was being a part of this project. October 3rd couldn't come fast enough!” Others were shocked at how different Johnson looked. “This doesn't even look like him!” someone wrote. Another said, “Wait, that's The Rock? No way!”

More Praise for the Makeup Team

Viewers didn’t hold back in praising the special effects team. "Makeup department better get an award,” one person wrote. Another added, “It seriously took me half the trailer to even realize it was The Rock. Incredible.”

One fan said, “That is easily the most impressive prosthetic transformation work I've seen. I was trying to figure out when we were going to see Dwayne until about halfway through, when the smile gave it away.”

Another noted, “He’s completely unrecognizable in this flick. Potential Oscar nomination.”
Someone else added, “Unrecognizable is such an overused buzzword, but Dwayne Johnson really is legitimately unrecognizable on this one.”

More About the Film

The movie tells the real story of Mark Kerr, a former MMA champion. He won multiple titles but also struggled with drug addiction. The film is inspired by a 2002 documentary of the same name. Emily Blunt plays Kerr’s girlfriend, highlighting his personal life along with his fighting career.

Johnson and Blunt previously worked together in Jungle Cruise. This film, however, comes from Benny Safdie, who is making his solo directorial debut. The Smashing Machine is set to release in October.