Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Benny Safdie Boost Josh Brolin's 'Smashing Machine'
Emily Blunt shared why she cried the first time she saw Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr in the campaign for Oscar recognition of the film The Smashing Machine. Although the box office results were underwhelming, Benny Safdie’s film still has strong supporters. A24 is actively pursuing awards season attention for it.
Q&A Event with Josh Brolin
On Tuesday night, Josh Brolin traveled from Santa Barbara to the Academy’s Lynwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood to moderate an engaging Q&A with Safdie, Blunt, and Johnson. Brolin is also a fan of the film.
"Insightful," "Smart, Funny, Easy To Digest, And Always Newsworthy," "Always Informative And Honest"
About the Film
Set mainly in the early 2000s, The Smashing Machine stars Johnson as Mark Kerr, a pioneering UFC fighter who challenges common stereotypes about the sport. Blunt plays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s wife at the time, who struggles with her own challenges.
Following its premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, Safdie won the Best Director award for the film.
Cast Connections
- Josh Brolin and Dwayne Johnson are longtime friends but have never acted together on screen.
- Brolin starred alongside Blunt in Sicario.
- Blunt and Johnson appeared together in Jungle Cruise.
This Q&A session resembled a celebration of the film and its talent, reflecting the strong camaraderie among the cast and crew.
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