Dwayne Johnson Stuns Hollywood With Bold New Move—Find Out What ‘The Rock’ Has Planned Next

Hollywood megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has stunned fans with a noticeably leaner physique, a transformation he says is driven by his most challenging role yet—playing troubled MMA legend Mark Kerr in A24’s upcoming drama “The Smashing Machine.” During a packed Q&A at the Toronto International Film Festival, Johnson admitted he has “a long way to go” to match the two-time UFC champion’s shredded 1990s frame, but added that the strict regimen has already stripped away more than 25 pounds of his trademark muscle mass. The dramatic weight loss is only part of the overhaul. Johnson revealed he is working with dialect coaches to master Kerr’s Midwestern cadence and is studying archived fight footage nightly to capture the former wrestler’s aggressive but vulnerable style. “This is not a popcorn action hero,” he told journalists in Toronto. “It’s raw, it’s imperfect, and it scares the hell out of me—so I know I’m in the right place.” Early awards buzz and box-office talk Industry trackers expect “The Smashing Machine” to punch well above its indie weight. Preliminary forecasts suggest a $20 million domestic opening—on pace to become A24’s second-best bow ever if projections hold. That momentum began in Venice, where a rough-cut screening earned a five-minute standing ovation and praise for Johnson’s “surprisingly raw performance” from critics who usually dismiss blockbuster icons. A pivot to prestige For years Johnson has dominated family franchises and superhero tentpoles. Shifting into a dark character study signals both a personal and professional pivot. CBS News asked whether the gamble could alienate his action-hungry fan base; Johnson countered that audiences “want truth more than they want explosions” and promised the film “will hurt in the best way possible.” Training regimen and diet overhaul • 4 a.m. fasted cardio instead of predawn weight-room sessions • High-protein, low-sodium meal plan capped at 2,500 calories (down from his typical 5,000-calorie bulking diet) • Daily ice baths to reduce inflammation after mixed-martial-arts sparring • Meditation and journaling to access Kerr’s battles with addiction and self-doubt Social buzz driving search interest Within 24 hours of Johnson’s TIFF appearance, the hashtag #TheRockSlimsDown generated more than 120 million impressions on X (formerly Twitter), while TikTok compilations comparing his 2024 “Black Adam” build to today’s streamlined frame racked up 80 million views. Searches for “Dwayne Johnson weight loss” and “Smashing Machine release date” spiked to their highest levels since the film was announced, signaling pent-up demand for every scrap of news around the transformation. What’s next Principal photography begins next month in Pittsburgh, with Oscar-winner Benny Safdie directing. A24 plans an awards-season rollout, eyeing a limited December release before expanding nationwide in January 2026. Johnson says he will not resume his usual bulking workouts until after reshoots wrap next spring—meaning fans can expect the leaner look to last well into next year’s red-carpet circuit. Why it matters Johnson’s pivot from superhero spectacle to gritty biopic could redefine the ceiling for action stars seeking prestige projects. If “The Smashing Machine” lands knockout box-office numbers and awards recognition, it may open the door for similar crossover vehicles—and prove that even the world’s highest-paid actor can still surprise us.