Dwayne Johnson says his latest film, The Smashing Machine, is a deeply personal project dedicated to friends and loved ones who have struggled with addiction and depression. Speaking with Variety on December 18, Johnson, 53, revealed that over the past two decades, he has lost 15 friends to addiction or suicide, experiences that profoundly shaped his perspective on life and his approach to storytelling.
The film chronicles the life of UFC legend Mark Kerr, played by Johnson, and his then-wife Dawn Staples, portrayed by Emily Blunt, focusing on Kerr’s battles with personal demons while achieving extraordinary success as a wrestler and mixed martial artist. “In a way, The Smashing Machine is a love letter to the men and women who struggle, who have made it on the other side, and who didn’t make it on the other side,” Johnson explained.
Johnson has been open about his own mental health challenges, including periods of depression and the trauma of his mother’s suicide attempt when he was 15. Through this film, he hopes to honor those who fought silently and spark conversations about resilience, mental health, and the pressure faced by those in high-stress profession.
