The highly anticipated biopic about Mark Kerr, titled The Smashing Machine, has finally been given a release date.
Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the former UFC and PRIDE fighter, the film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on October 3rd. Deadline was the first to report the release date.
Benny Safdie, known for his work on films like Uncut Gems, directed and co-wrote The Smashing Machine. The movie also features Academy Award-nominated actress Emily Blunt, who will portray Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples.
The Smashing Machine is set to be released on the same day as Roofman, a film starring Channing Tatum, and The Keeper, the latest horror movie from Oz Perkins, both also opening on October 3rd.
Based on the documentary of the same name, The Smashing Machine will explore Kerr’s journey from being considered one of the world`s best fighters to his struggles with addiction later in his career.
Former Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader is also part of the cast, playing UFC Hall of Famer and Kerr’s friend, Mark Coleman, in the biopic.
Other notable names in the film include heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk as Russian fighter Igor Vovchanchyn, Satoshi Ishii as Enson Inoue, James Moontasri as Akira Shoji, Andre Tricoteux as Paul Varelans, and former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten, who will play himself, reprising his role from the original documentary about Kerr.
The Smashing Machine is produced by the independent studio A24.
Marcus Blakely 
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