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Dwayne Johnson Shocks Fans with Weight Loss Transformation at Venice Film Festival
Dwayne Johnson lost significant muscle mass to authentically portray UFC champion Mark Kerr, who struggled with prescription drug addiction, in the biopic "The Smashing Machine."
- On September 1, 2025, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson stunned fans at the Venice Film Festival by promoting The Smashing Machine with a noticeably slimmed-down physique.
- To prepare for the role, Johnson slimmed down to portray Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's film The Smashing Machine, which opens in the U.S. on October 3, 2025.
- Johnson said of the effort, he lost around 60 pounds, moving closer to 240 lbs from about 300 lbs, and combined prosthetics with makeup sessions lasting up to four hours daily, adding `This transformation was something I was really hungry to do`.
- Social media quickly seized on the images and videos, with fans dubbing Johnson 'The Pebble' and millions of views sparking awards chatter among industry observers.
- Johnson began treatment in early 2024 for gut issues while balancing commitments, with doctors warning years of heavy training caused inflammation and joint strain.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s slimmer look at Venice Film Festival has fans doing double takes
Dwayne Johnson showed off his slimmed down physique at the Venice Film Festival last weekend. The actor portrays former MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the new movie "The Smashing Machine."
der Standard AT
der Standard DEDwayne Johnson is more known for rich action films – now the US actor is trying out a more reputable role. At the Venice Film Festival, "The Rock" presented the film "The Smashing Machine", in which he plays a US wrestler
Dwayne Johnson, who was used to the role of muscular colossus, created the surprise at the Venice Mostra. A short 27 kilos for his role in The Smashing Machine, the actor appeared unrecognizable, shocking his fans with this radical physical transformation.
In the Smashing Machine, for which he lost 30 kilos, he made a strong impression at the Venice festival. To the point of being already mentioned among the favorites for an Oscar of the best actor. ...
Dwayne Johnson Astonishes Venice with Her Physical Change and Serious Oscar Candidacy for Best Actor
If anything has proved in recent years Dwayne Johnson has been his chameleon facet to get into the skin of any character: from Hobbs' purest speed, to Mitch Buchannon's most eye-catching swimsuit, past Black Adam superhero, special agent John Hartley or Santa's bodyguard Callum Drift.Always linked to action cinema, the American actor has now surprised Venice with a much more sober and serious tone in his performance as wrestler Mark Kerr, a key …
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