The Rock Looks Unrecognizable in Sneak Peek of Upcoming Film Role

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson shared a sneak peek of his role in the upcoming A24 biographical sports drama The Smashing Machine, about the life of former wrestler and MMA star Mark Kerr. And not only is the dramatic role a departure for Johnson, who typically stars in action fare or family-friendly films, but he likewise completely transformed himself for the film.

"First look at Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine starring [The Rock] and Emily Blunt," the 52-year-old captioned the still image posted to Instagram on Tuesday, in which he can be seen sitting in the corner of a wrestling ring.

In addition to sporting a full head of hair, Johnson also appears to have undergone extensive makeup and prosthetics to turn himself into the heavyweight champion, as well as covering up his trademark tattoos.

In a hashtag, Johnson noted that the image was taken on the first day of production of the upcoming film, which was preceded by a 2002 HBO documentary of the same name. The documentary delved into Kerr's struggle with substance abuse, his relationship with his then-girlfriend, various training partners, and his friendship with fellow MMA star Mark Coleman. 

Earlier in the day, Johnson shared a behind-the-scenes look into his training for the role, which involved the legendary fighter himself. "My training camp became complete when the man himself, Mark Kerr trained with us," the WWE star captioned the series of photos.

"He’s still a f--king machine, that can close the distance with scary speed and power," he continued. "I’ll forever be grateful to the core for our his invaluable knowledge he’s been gracious enough to pass onto me and especially for the brotherhood we share."

A release date for the big screen adaptation has not yet been finalized, but audiences can expect it to hit theaters sometime in 2025.