Last Updated:
Dwayne Johnson surprises fans with his lean new look at Venice Film Festival as he prepares for his most transformative role yet in The Smashing Machine.
Dwayne Johnson debuts a slimmed-down look at Venice Film Festival.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson left fans stunned at the Venice Film Festival as he debuted a lean new look for his upcoming film The Smashing Machine. Known for his massive, muscular build, the wrestler-turned-actor surprised everyone when he appeared noticeably slimmed down, sparking viral reactions online.
The 53-year-old star has physically transformed to play legendary UFC fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s highly anticipated biopic, which premiered in Venice on Monday night. Johnson attended multiple festival events alongside his co-star Emily Blunt, drawing attention not just for his Hollywood charisma but for his shocking new physique.
Fans React To “The Pebble” Transformation
On Saturday, Johnson appeared at the Miu Miu Women’s Tales event in a button-up blue shirt and black pants, while on Monday he wore a short-sleeved blue shirt tucked into crisp white trousers for the photocall. His noticeably slimmer frame immediately went viral on X (formerly Twitter).
Fans were quick to joke about the drastic change, with one calling him “The Pebble,” while another remarked, “Damn, he’s half of what he was!” Many others applauded his dedication to embodying the MMA legend, with comments like, “Wow, nice transformation.”
In The Smashing Machine, Johnson portrays Mark Kerr, a celebrated fighter who grappled with the pressures of fame and personal struggles, including prescription drug addiction. Blunt, 42, plays Kerr’s now-ex-wife Dawn Staples, adding emotional depth to the powerful sports drama.
Johnson Explains His Career-Changing Choice
At the film’s Venice press conference, Johnson opened up about why this role felt like a turning point. He admitted that Hollywood had often boxed him into blockbuster roles defined by his action-hero persona.
“When you’re in Hollywood, it becomes about box office, and that can push you into a corner,” he said. “I just had this burning desire and voice that was saying, ‘What if there is more and what if I can?’”
Johnson credited Blunt and director Safdie for encouraging him to push beyond his comfort zone. “Sometimes it takes people you love and respect to say that you can,” he explained.
Reflecting on his career, the actor added: “I started to think, am I living my dream or am I living other people’s dreams? You either fall in line, or you say, I want to live my dreams now.”
With The Smashing Machine, Johnson not only undergoes his most dramatic physical transformation yet but also embraces a role that may redefine his career.
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, …Read More
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, … Read More
Stay updated with the latest news from Hollywood, upcoming english movie releases, red carpet moments, box office collections, reviews, and trailers. You can also download the News18 App.
- Location :
Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)
