There is no doubt that actor Dwayne Johnson is one of the most popular stars in the world. Naturally, he always makes huge bank from every movie he stars in. However, it seems like Johnson has reached a point where he no longer cares about the money.
The actor is all set to collaborate with actor Benny Safdie in his solo filmmaking debut, an A24 movie called The Smashing Machine. In the movie, Johnson will play Mark Kerr, a legendary mixed martial arts fighter and UFC champion. Fans now wonder if Johnson no longer cares about the money because of his recent flops, particularly 2022’s Black Adam.
Nonetheless, the actor has been one of the highest-earning actors in the industry, so perhaps Johnson is now simply choosing quality over quantity.
Is Dwayne Johnson settling for less salary for his work in The Smashing Machine?
In a recent interview with Variety, actor Dwayne Johnson talked about his upcoming A24 movie, The Smashing Machine, directed by actor Benny Safdie. The actor explained in a video memo,
“I want to be clear not to say that this is an abandonment of big, four-quadrant movies. I love making them, and there is tremendous value and importance in [them]… but there’s a time and a place for them. I’m at this point in my career where I want more. And I don’t mean I want more box office. I mean I want more humanity. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me.”
Johnson has always remained an action icon thanks to his action-packed blockbusters. However, he now appears to be looking for a change, and Safdie has created a movie that is perfect for him.
Dwayne Johnson will play Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine
Former wrestler and mixed martial artist, Mark Kerr, was well-known as The Smashing Machine during his prime years. In 2002, an HBO documentary titled The Smashing Machine was made, which detailed his MMA career fighting in Vale Tudo, the UFC, and PRIDE. Now, more than 20 years later, Safdie is working on a film that focuses on the fighter’s life.
With his experience in professional wrestling, Johnson is indeed perfect for the role. Johnson and Safdie first came up with the idea in 2019, but due to COVID-19, the idea was put on a back burner. A release date for the movie has not been revealed yet, but fans can expect an announcement very soon.
