The connection of Dwayne Johnson with Mark Kerr is deeper than his role in The Smashing Machine.
Long before he stepped in De Jager’s shoes for the upcoming biopic, Johnson had already crossed paths with Kerr in the 1990s.
Johnson appeared on the season premiere of the Podcast of Variety’s Awards Circuit, revealed that he first met the MMA legend during his early wrestling years.
“In the mid -90s I started to struggle in ’96 after my football career. In ’97 -’98, when we struggled in La, we all went to the same gym. I met Mark, Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Don Frye. Legends,” he recalled.
At the time, Johnson still tried to find his foot in WWE under the name Rocky Maivia.
“It wasn’t going well. I was booed,” he admitted.
“These guys? Fighting for pride in Japan and making real money. I remember that I said,” Hey man, if I ever want to talk to you about things like this, is that good? ” He said, “Absolutely.” I was a Jubroni and he said, “Good for you, kid.” ‘
Looking back, Johnson shared that he had no idea of the private fights with which Kerr was confronted.
“What I didn’t know then was what he struggled with, addiction, depression, shame. You look at him and think he is on top of the world. But that is the lesson: you never know what someone is going through.”
Johnson also opened the extreme physical preparation that went to the embodying of Kerr on the screen.
“This transformation was the most difficult thing I have ever done. There was a physical transformation, prostheses, vocal transformation. He has a very specific way of talking,” he explained.
In collaboration with director Benny Safdie, Johnson said that the approach was raw and compelling.
“Benny said:” I want to film this and never cut away from you. ‘I knew what that meant … If Mark is beaten, I will be beaten. “
To capture the unique physique of Kerr, Johnson had to undergo intense changes.
“I had to put on 30 pounds. Benny said he wanted me to look a bit ‘swollen’ and I agreed. But it doesn’t win alone. It is a muscle quality that has a quick capacity. He is a wrestler. It is not about bodybuilding.”
The actor has trained his neck for months and fall to mirror Kerr’s Wrestlerbuild, so that the weight held for more than three months before they switched from gear to Maui in Moana.
While Johnson laughed: “So it was Mark Kerr and Maui. Big guys.”
