Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Shares Day One Look at Intense MMA Training for New Movie

Since transitioning from the wrestling ring to the big screen, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has established himself as one of the most bankable action stars in Hollywood. In his latest project, The Rock is set to portray legendary UFC champion Mark Kerr in the upcoming biopic The Smashing Machine. MMA is vastly different than WWE wrestling, and The Rock is wasting no time in preparing for filming.

On May 5, the Red One star shared video on Instagram of his first day in the gym getting into fighting shape for the new movie. With the help of a coach, The Rock exchanges swings with opponent and pins him down. Ensuring authenticity while avoiding harm will be critical when filming the movie and having to do multiple takes of potentially dangerous fights.

"Day 1. MMA training camp. Preparing for [The] Smashing Machine," he captioned the post.

"I’m learning daily and it’s been a very humbling, intense, and motivating journey into this world of combat and becoming Mark Kerr—the two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion [and] World Vale Tudo Champion," he continued. "I’m a hard worker, but I realized that I’d have to work harder with this role than anything I’ve ever worked for in my life. This physicality is just one part of the larger journey that is truly a team effort."

"Growing and grateful," he concluded.

The new project won't be the first film focused on Kerr. Back in 2002, HBO told his story in the documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr. The biopic will be a dramatic retelling of Kerr's rise to the top.

The Smashing Machine is expected to hit theaters sometime in 2025.