When Dwayne Johnson, actor stepped onto the Access Hollywood set on September 30, 2025, he didn’t just talk about flexing muscles for a new movie – he laid bare how he’s handling the sudden Oscar buzz swirling around his turn as UFC heavyweight champion Mark Kerr. The interview, aired just weeks before the film’s October 3, 2025 nationwide rollout, gave fans a glimpse into the mental grind that fuels a performance that critics are already calling “a contender for season‑best acting.”

Background of “The Smashing Machine”

Directed by indie powerhouse A24, The Smashing Machine chronicles Kerr’s meteoric rise in the late‑1990s, his reign as the most feared heavyweight in mixed‑martial‑arts, and the personal demons that followed. While Kerr’s name never quite made the mainstream headline like Mike Tyson’s, his story is a textbook case of an athlete grappling with extreme pressure – a theme that resonated with Johnson, who’s faced his own brand of public scrutiny over a four‑decade career.

Unlike typical biopics that rely on flash‑backs and voice‑over narration, the film opts for an immersive, almost documentary‑style lens. The production team spent six months shadowing Kerr’s former trainers in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and incorporated authentic fight footage to keep the on‑screen action grounded.

Johnson’s Physical and Mental Prep

The most obvious change was Johnson’s bulk. He shed roughly 30 pounds, dropping from his usual 260‑lb frame to about 230 lbs, to mirror Kerr’s early‑career physique. “I wasn’t just losing weight; I was learning how a fighter moves when the weight’s off his shoulders,” Johnson explained. He spent six weeks at the Renzo Gracie Academy, sparring with current UFC prospects to capture Kerr’s distinctive south‑paw stance.

But the real transformation, he says, was mental. “It’s easy to focus on the win‑loss column. The harder part is how you deal with the pressure that comes after you’ve already made history,” Johnson said. He worked with sports psychologist Dr. Elena Ramos, who’s known for coaching elite athletes like Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky. Together they ran simulations of press conferences and award‑show speeches, building a toolbox of coping strategies that Johnson could call on when the Oscar chatter turned up the heat.

The Oscar Buzz and the Pressure Cooker

Within days of the first trailer dropping on August 15, 2025, the film began to appear on several critics’ “must‑watch” Oscar watchlists. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association even hinted at a possible Best Actor nod in a pre‑award season article published September 10.

Johnson, who has two Golden Globe wins and an Emmy, admitted the buzz is both flattering and unsettling. “I love that the work is being recognized, but the moment you start hearing ‘Oscar season’ you feel a different kind of pressure – the pressure to be perfect for an audience you can’t control,” he said. He likened the feeling to the final round of a title fight: you’re exhausted, the crowd is roaring, and every move could be the one that defines you.

Industry insiders note that Johnson’s performance could break new ground for action stars seeking serious acting accolades. “If the Academy backs a former wrestler‑turned‑hero for this role, it could open doors for similar transitions,” says film analyst Maya Patel of Variety.

Responses from Involved Parties

Mark Kerr, who attended the interview in a wheelchair due to a lingering shoulder injury, praised Johnson’s dedication. “I’ve seen a lot of actors try to play fighters. Dwayne didn’t just put on the gloves; he lived the loss and the love that comes with being the baddest dude on the planet,” Kerr said, his voice rough but hopeful.

Producer Lena Rodriguez of A24 added, “We always wanted a bridge between the raw brutality of the sport and the vulnerability of the man inside. Johnson gave us that bridge without compromising the authenticity of the fight scenes.”

The film’s early test screenings, held in Los Angeles and New York on September 12, generated a 91% positive response, with audiences especially noting the “raw emotional edge” Johnson brings to the role.

What’s Next for the Film?

The official release will roll out nationwide on October 3, 2025, with a limited‑run “Oscar‑qualifying” run starting September 15 in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. A24 plans a robust awards‑season campaign, including a premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 18, where Johnson will appear alongside Kerr for a joint Q&A.

Should the buzz translate into nominations, the studio is already budgeting for a “Thank You” motion‑picture‑style poster, a move reminiscent of past Oscar‑winning campaigns for indie dramas.

Key Takeaways

• Dwayne Johnson transformed physically and mentally to embody Mark Kerr.
• The film The Smashing Machine is slated for a October 3, 2025 release.
• A24’s distribution strategy includes an early Oscar‑qualifying window.
• Early screenings suggest the film could be a serious awards contender.