The Rock Explores New Roles In ‘The Smashing Machine’
September 2, 2025
1:46 pm
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said Monday that a “burning desire” to explore more complex roles drove him to accept a part in The Smashing Machine, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Known for his wrestling career and big-budget action films, the 53-year-old explained that Hollywood’s emphasis on box office success often pushes actors into predictable roles. “I understood that, and I made those movies, and I liked them, and they were fun, and some were really good and did well, and some not so,” Johnson said, speaking at his first European festival.
“But I just had this burning desire …
