Acclaimed actor Dwayne Johnson readies himself for the cage as he gets set to portray an MMA legend in his next movie.

Dwayne Johnson on upcoming A24 films

Famed wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson prepares to move from the squared circle to the octagon as he shapes up to star in The Smashing Machine. The Rock released a new behind-the-scenes video showing his preparation for the A24 film.

Via his Instagram account, Johnson shared a training video of himself grappling inside a ring, learning the nuances of mixed martial arts as he gets ready to play MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Johnson said the MMA training camp he’s undergoing is “a very humbling, intense and motivating journey into this world of combat.” He also admitted that, despite being a hard worker, he understood straightaway that he would “have to work harder with this role than anything I’ve ever worked for in my life.”

Famed wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson prepares to move from the squared circle to the octagon as he shapes up to star in The Smashing Machine. The Rock released a new behind-the-scenes video showing his preparation for the A24 film.Via his Instagram account, Johnson shared a training video of himself grappling inside a ring, learning the nuances of mixed martial arts as he gets ready to play MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Johnson said the MMA training camp he’s undergoing is “a very humbling, intense and motivating journey into this world of combat.” He also admitted that, despite being a hard worker, he understood straightaway that he would “have to work harder with this role than anything I’ve ever worked for in my life.”

Dwayne The Rock Johnson in Jumanji.

Johnson has spoken highly of The Smashing Machine, insisting he wanted to ‘make films that matter’ when he accepted the opportunity to play Kerr. The project has been in the making for years, with Oscar-nominated actor and Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt encouraging him to set the movie in motion. Blunt, who starred alongside Johnson in Jungle Cruise, is reportedly the frontrunner to play Kerr’s then-wife, Dawn Staples, in The Smashing Machine.

Johnson’s schedule is increasingly busy as he’s also been working on the Moana live-action film and animated sequel, reprising his role as Maui in both. Additionally, he is set to shoot the upcoming Fast & Furious spinoff movie based on his lawman character in the action franchise, Luke Hobbs.

No release window has been confirmed for The Smashing Machine, though it’s believed the film will premiere sometime in 2025.