Earlier this May, renowned production house A24 shocked everyone by releasing the first look of the biographical movie “The Smashing Machine” on social media. The film features Dwayne ‘The Rick’ Johnson portraying UFC Hall of Famer Mark Kerr. In the teaser, Johnson, almost unrecognizable without his tattoos and signature bald head, is seen sitting in the octagon.

Since then, the hype for this upcoming film has gradually increased, reaching a peak, with MMA fans eagerly awaiting its release. This excitement extends to film enthusiasts, who are intrigued by the story of the two-time UFC heavyweight champion. UFC head honcho Dana White also joined in the excitement, as it’s the first time a UFC fighter’s biography has been adapted into a movie. He has also given his blessing to Dwayne Johnson, congratulating him on A24 Productions and their foreseen success. In a recent post on X, White wrote, “Congrats @TheRock It’s going to be an AWESOME move my brother.”

Recently, a fan shared another behind-the-scene picture on Reddit, caption, “Mark Kerr with Dwayne Johnson, in prosthetics as Mark Kerr.” the image shows Johnson in prosthetics that make him almost unrecognizable compared to the real-life Mark Kerr. The resemblance is so striking it could spin any fan’s head. This was evident in the comments on the Reddit post, where fans expressed admiration for Johnson’s dedication to the role in the upcoming sports drama movie.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson left fans confused

After dominating the WWE ring, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made a smooth transition to Hollywood, with his first real taste of the big screen coming in a small but memorable cameo in “The Mummy” franchise. Fans were so captivated by his presence that they demanded more—and they got it with “The Scorpion King,” a film that catapulted Johnson into the spotlight as a bona fide action star. Since then, Johnson has racked up hit after hit, with his role in the Fast and Furious franchise solidifying his status as one of the highest-paid actors on the planet.

But Johnson’s rise to the top hasn’t dulled his commitment to his craft. His latest transformation for the upcoming Mark Kerr biopic left some fans doing a double-take. “LOL I was staring at the bald guy thinking, no way in hell that’s The Rock,” one fan joked, while another added, “Which one’s which?”

But for many, this film is about more than just Dwayne Johnson—it’s about Mark Kerr. MMA enthusiasts are buzzing about the movie, referencing the HBO documentary The Smashing Machine, which detailed Kerr’s struggles with addiction and personal demons even as he conquered the MMA world. “I watched the original Smashing Machine documentary. It was pretty sad,” one fan recalled, while another urged everyone to check out the documentary: “If anyone hasn’t seen Smashing Machine, do it now!”

Not all reactions have been glowing, though. “Yeah, this is pretty weird. Hopefully, the movie will be decent,” a fan commented on The Rock’s prosthetic makeup. But for others, the focus remains on the sport they love. “I’m all for more MMA movies. Y’all b-tch too much,” an MMA enthusiast fired back.

What do you think of Dwayne Johnson’s transformation compared to the real Mark Kerr? Share your thoughts in the comments!