Dwayne Johnson is seen in a new look.
The actor’s next role will be playing UFC icon Mark Kerr in his biopic The Smashing Machine.
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And The Rock, 52, looked like a whole new man in the latest photos taken from set.
His famous dome is covered by a curly wig and prosthetics have altered his facial appearance.
“That can’t be him,” one fan commented.
Another added: “He looks so different.”
A third wrote: “I had to zoom in to make sure it was him because wow… really hard to recognise!”
Johnson will appear alongside other cast members including Emily Blunt, Lindsay Gavin and Oleksandr Usyk.
And UFC chief Dana White has said he’s in the running for an Oscar.
“I don’t know if you saw it, but he was showing on his Instagram the other day that he hurt his elbow.” White told Collider.
“The Rock will bring life to it. He will play this role brilliantly. I know how seriously he is taking it, I know who is working with him, and I know how hard he is working on this movie.
“I think this could be an opportunity for The Rock to get nominated for an Oscar.
“This has been a passion project for him for quite some time, and he has 100% support from the UFC.
“Obviously, he’s my friend and this is his chance to get an Oscar.”
Johnson plays the lead role in the film, which is directed by Benny Safdie.
Blunt is rumoured to be playing Kerr’s ex-wife, Dawn Staples.
Kerr, 55, a two-time mixed martial arts heavyweight champion, has taken plenty of beatings in his time — and suffered in return.
What we know about Smashing Machine…
Smashing Machine was first announced for 2023 and was reported to be Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s next big project.
The film will depict the life and story of former UFC fighter and mixed martial artist Mike Kerr.
Mark was born in 1968 and in his vast and varied career he won the title of UFC World Heavyweight Champion twice, as well as gold and silver in the World Cup.
The Smashing Machine is believed to focus on his history with drug abuse and his relationship with his then-girlfriend Dawn Staples (played by Emily Blunt).
An HBO documentary on Mark’s life was released in 2002, but it is the first partially fictional film.
Directed by Benny Safdie, the film has no official release date but is expected to hit theaters in early 2025, with filming set to begin around May 2024.
Dwayne and Emily previously appeared in promotional images that showed the wrestler sitting in the corner of the ring suffering from pain in the middle of one of his iconic bouts.
The upcoming biopic will also feature actress Lindsay Gavin alongside wrestlers Ryan Bader and Oleksandr Usyk.
The athlete, who retired in 2009 to become a car dealer, revealed how low he had fallen. Exclusive interview with The Sun.
Before filming, The Rock told his friend Kerr: “Playing this role is the greatest honor of my life.”
The former UFC star believes the actor will do his life story justice, concluding: “It gives me goosebumps, because when he says that you know he really means it.”
The Rock said of assuming the role, “I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways I haven’t pushed myself in the past.”
“I want to make films that matter, that explore humanity and struggle.”
Read more at The Scottish Sun
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