The moment is there: the rock has arrived on the Lido.
In a Venice Film Festival in 2025 filled with Cross -Generational Star Power – by George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Jude Law in Jacob Elardi, Emma Stone and Ayo Edebiri – Dwayne Johnson’s arrived on Monday for the world’s first in the first of the first in the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first First of the first of the first in the first in the first of the first of the first in the first of the first in the first of the first in the first of the first of the first of the first in the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first in the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first of the first in the first of the first in the first of the first in the first of the first in the first of the first in the first of the first of the first of The breaking machine Nevertheless, a breathtaking moment.
“This transformation was something that I was really hungry to do,” said Johnson about his unusual leading turn in the visceral drama of Bennie Safdie. “I was lucky to have the career that I had over the years and to make the films I made, but there was just a voice in me, a little voice that said:” Well, and if I could do more-I want to do more and what does it look like? “”
The breaking machine Represents a daring leap in the actor’s upper strings, one of the world’s largest cinema stars, known for superproductions and spectacle rather than emotionally motivated prestigious cinema. Anticipation for The breaking machine Was fervent in the legions of Johnson fans and moviegoers, while award analysts are ready to assess the dramatic chops of the Action Star for the potential of the Oscars. The drama was manufactured by manufacturers of independent A24 tastes for $ 40 million, a fraction of the mega-bugs of the tampon generally assembled around the action hero.
Written and directed by Benny Safdie, The breaking machine Stars Johnson in the role of Mark Kerr, the legendary UFC heavyweight champion and the MMA icon. The story follows the dazzling elevation of Kerr in the without restraint of the MMA of the 1990s and the personal demons which he fought outside the ring – including a painful fight against dependence on drug addiction. He is inspired by the career of the real Kerr (told in a 2002 HBO documentary of the same name) and plunges into his pain, his dependence and his struggle for redemption. Emily Blunt embodies Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples, bringing new emotional layers to the chemistry she established with Johnson in Disney Tentpole, Cruise in the jungle. Blunt is friends close to the actor of action in real life and would have played a central role in the contribution The breaking machinedirector and star together after meeting and connected with Safdie on the set of Oppenheimerin which they played.
Johnson became emotional by discussing Kerr’s personal struggle, which he was responsible for representing on the screen. Kerr was sitting near the crowd at the Venice press conference and was visibly moved in many Johnson’s statements.
“Mark was the biggest fighter in the world at some point, but this film does not even really concern fights – it’s a love story,” said Johnson, more and more tearful eyes. “It’s a love story about Mark and Dawn in this relationship, and it’s a love story about Mark and the love he had for the thing he has done – his struggle to try to fight [in the ring]his challenges and overcome. As you know, Mark Od’d twice, and he is lucky to be alive – and that explains why this story is so special.
Director Benny Safdie, actress Emily Blunt and star Dwayne Johnson arrive by boat at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.
The breaking machine is Benny Safdie’s first effort without his brother, Josh Safdie, with whom he made a favorite thrillers channel, such as Good time (2017), with Robert Pattinson, and Uncoupled gems (2019), with Adam Sandler. (He also co-created the 2023 AUTERIST TV series The curse with Nathan Fielder.)
Johnson regularly described Blunt as her “best friend” and stressed how instrumental she was to help her make this dramatic turn in her career.
“Since we worked Cruise in the jungle Together, she really encouraged and believed in me and said, “You know, there is a place where you can put all the things you have experienced when you were a child,” he said. “I was very close to Emily and I shared a lot of everything I experienced, and she said:” This place is what you like to do, what works – and you have me – so let’s do it together. And then Benny was on the other side of that, saying: “Hey, I have you both, and let’s go.” Thus, this transformation could not have occurred without my best friend being there to support and encourage me. »»
Johnson noted how the box office “can be very strong” and push an actor “in a corner” where the industry says: “It’s your way” and “that’s what people want you to do”.
“I understood that,” continued Johnson, “so I made these films, and I loved them – they were fun. Some were really good and good, and others not so good … “
He added: “Often, it is more difficult for us – or at least for me sometimes – to know what you are capable of when you have been a pigeon -hola … and sometimes it takes people you love and that you respect, like Emily and Benny, to say that you can.”
By heading towards Venice, Safdie described her intentions for the film in an official declaration of the director, by writing: “The breaking machine: an onomatopoeia perfect for something visual, combining images of domination and destruction with ease. Mark Kerr was really the shiny machine. His strength translated from the ring as well because he had a unique ability to try not to be Mark. Do you really like to be dawn staples? We wanted to sympathize with these characters in a way that looked like our own feelings.
A24 will be released The breaking machine In American cinemas on October 3. The studio is organizing a sumptuous party in a palazzo in Venice on Monday evening to celebrate the world first of the film, with Safdie, Johnson, dull in real life Mark Kerr should also attend.
