The Rock’s New A24 Movie Can Redeem His Forgotten 2013 Failure

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s upcoming A24 movie The Smashing Machine can redeem an earlier attempt at a more serious movie career trajectory from nearly 11 years ago. Although prominently known for his wrestling career, The Rock has also established himself as one of the most famous actors working in Hollywood, with starring roles in multiple franchises, sequels, and reboots. From the Fast & Furious franchise to his string of comedies starring alongside Kevin Hart, The Rock is arguably one of the most dominant forces in the entertainment industry.

The Rock’s early movie career saw the actor try his hand at more emotionally challenging work that showcased a different side of the A-list celebrity. Movies like Be Cool and Gridiron Gang shed his macho persona in place of something much more relatable to general audiences. However, one 2013 movie from The Rock’s career saw him attempt to blend his usual aesthetic with something more dramatic, resulting in neither approach working. Although the details are limited, The Smashing Machine can succeed in establishing The Rock’s dramatic career, and possibly even shifting the direction of his career.

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The Smashing Machine Can Make Up For Pain & Gain’s Failure

The Smashing Machine’s subjects lends itself to The Rock’s pro wrestling background.

Although most critics wrote it off, Pain & Gain is one of Michael Bay’s best movies and it’s based on the real-life events of a trio of criminal bodybuilders in 1980s Miami, Florida. Although Pain & Gain isn’t a critical darling by any stretch, it demonstrates The Rock’s range and suggests that with the proper material, audiences can see a refreshing side of the actor. Given A24’s track record as well as Bennie Safdie’s sensibilities as a filmmaker, the upcoming The Smashing Machine could be just the movie he needs to perfectly demonstrate his dramatic abilities.

Why The Rock’s A24 Movie Is Already So Exciting

It could be a return to form considering his earlier roles were steeped in more dramatic tension.

Dwayne Johnson’s A24 movie suggests that he’s at a point in his career where he’s ready to take bigger risks as an actor, which perfectly explains why he’s interested in portraying former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion, Mark Kerr, in The Smashing Machine. Kerr’s story is interesting as it follows the familiar rise and fall narrative often seen in crime dramas, and is instead applied to the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Whereas Kerr starts off as an optimistic fighter, his thirst to become champion sends him down a self-destructive path of substance abuse and loneliness.

Given the synopsis, The Smashing Machine is already Dwayne Johnson’s most interesting project in years, and it has the potential to improve his reputation as an actor. While Kerr’s story is filled with a lot of tragedy, it’s ultimately a story about reclaiming one’s humanity and zest for life, irrespective of how tough things get. Considering Safdie’s record at covering similar issues of abuse and regret through the substances his protagonists abuse, The Smashing Machine is positioned to do well already. If The Smashing Machine proves successful, it also might bring about a new era of projects for The Rock.