Ryan Bader got to flex his acting skills in Dwayne Johnson’s next feature film.
Directed by Benny Safdie, one of the men behind 2019’s critically acclaimed Uncut Gems starring Adam Sandler, The Smashing Machine will see Johnson portray former UFC and PRIDE FC fighter Mark Kerr. Also appearing in the film will be Bader, who plays the role of another combat sports icon, Mark ‘The Hammer’ Coleman.
“I got a random call from Benny Safdie about this MMA film, and after auditioning, I landed the role of Mark Coleman,” Bader told Submission Radio while discussing his journey into acting. “It was surreal playing such a legend who’s part of my lineage in MMA—wrestlers turned fighters. Working with The Rock and Emily Blunt was totally different from anything I’ve done before.
“The fighting scenes were in my wheelhouse, but the dialogue and acting were completely new. The Rock worked hard to pick up wrestling and MMA skills for the film, and it looks gritty and real—it spans from the Vale Tudo days to Pride.
The film also stars Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place, Fall Guy) as Kerr’s then-wife, Dawn Staples.
“Dwayne is someone who, as you know—not only because of his colossal size, but just who he is—has never really been allowed to disappear, and he is unrecognizable in this,” Blunt told Variety in December. “And it’s an incredibly intense film – yes, centered around the life of this real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr—all of his struggles with addictions, his relationships. It was, again, an incredibly immersive, very intense, very emotional experience to do it, and he is extraordinary in it.”
Johnson and Blunt previously co-starred in 2021’s Jungle Cruise, based on Disneyland’s popular opening-day attraction.
Ryan Bader joins a slew of other combat sports stars in The Smashing Machine
Other combat sports stars set to appear in the project include undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, former UFC champion Bas Rutten, Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii, and two-time USA Taekwondo national champion James Moontasri.
Produced by A24, principal photography ran on the film ran from May 21 to August 7, 2024, spanning locations such as New Mexico, Tokyo, and Vancouver.
The Smashing Machine is expected to hit theaters in 2025.
