Benny Safdie Sets Solo Directing Debut with Dwayne Johnson as MMA Fighter Mark Kerr for A24

Samantha Bergeson
·2 min read
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Benny Safdie is set to make his solo directing debut with A24’s “The Smashing Machine” about MMA fighter Mark Kerr.

Real-life WWE alum Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will return to his roots to portray Kerr onscreen in the biopic, capturing Kerr’s rise in the UFC. Per the A24 announcement, Johnson’s most dramatic project yet follows MMA fighter Kerr’s career peak during the “no-holds-barred era of the UFC” in 2000. Two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion Kerr’s struggles with addiction, competition, and his love life will be captured in the film.

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A24 will produce and finance “The Smashing Machine,” which is written by Safdie. Lead star Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions will produce alongside Safdie’s Out for the Count banner, Eli Bush, and David Koplan.

Johnson and Safdie have been collaborators on the project since Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions acquired the rights in 2019. A24 has joined as a partner.

“Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying,” A24’s Noah Sacco said in a statement. “We are deeply honored to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life.”

Kerr was previously the subject of the 2002 documentary also titled “The Smashing Machine,” which detailed his MMA career fighting in Vale Tudo, the UFC, and PRIDE.

“The Smashing Machine” marks Safdie’s first solo venture as a director. Brother Josh Safdie is also striking out on his own as a director, helming the yet-untitled film Adam Sandler Netflix film set in the world of sports memorabilia collectors. Benny Safdie told GQ that the Sandler feature will be the first project not helmed by both brothers, despite both Josh and Benny Safdie co-writing the script.

“Elara is still there. We work on a lot of documentaries and there’s just a constant flow of ideas,” Benny Safdie said. “It just felt like, OK, there’s things that I want to explore that don’t necessarily align right now with Josh. So it’s a divide and conquer mentality. He wants to tell this story, he can go and do that. I’m going to go and do a couple of other things. It seems like a natural progression for how things have happened.”

Safdie recently co-created the A24/Showtime series “The Curse” with Nathan Fielder and is now focused on his own career outside of the Safdie brothers’ banner at the moment. Series episodes are directed by Fielder and the Zellners, with Sadie co-writing all installments.

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