Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie celebrated the red carpet debut of their new film “The Smashing Machine” in Los Angeles on Monday night. But the duo is already planning for their next collaboration: an adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater’s novel “Lizard Music.” The former WWE star will play a 75-year-old man who is best friends with a chicken of the same age.
Johnson has lost a significant amount of weight for the role after packing on 30 pounds for “Smashing Machine.” “I’ve been dieting,” he said. “Happy to not be carrying all the weight. I’m able to tuck in my shirt now…I don’t look pregnant so it’s all good.”
He added, “Think Clint Eastwood at 75. Sinewy muscles, he’s lean. But it feels good.”
In “Smashing Machine,” written and directed by Safdie, Johnson stars as Mark Kerr, a champion in the early days of MMA fighting who made a career comeback after battling substance abuse. Emily Blunt plays his longtime girlfriend Dawn Staples.
Blunt talked about seeing Johnson as Kerr for the first time on set. “’Holy shit,’ is what went through my head,” she said. “I was really staggered by it. It changed the air in the room. Everyone just went very quiet…The transformation seemed like water in the desert. It was so magical.”
After shooting the film’s darker, more intense scenes, Blunt said, she and Johnson would decompress by having a drink together. “There was tequila on set,” she said, adding with a smile, “I love tequila. I need it.”
In terms of other projects, Blunt and Johnson say they’re ready to hit the rough waters again.
A sequel to their 2021 action adventure “Jungle Cruise” was announced shortly after the film crossed $100 million at the domestic box office.
“I feel like we gotta do something else now. I’m like, ‘What else?’” Blunt told me Monday night at the premiere of the acting pair’s MMA drama “The Smashing Machine.” “Call Disney. Get us back on that boat.”
Johnson added, “We’re calling those guys tonight. We had so much fun.”
See more photos from “The Smashing Machine” premiere below.
Benny Safdie, Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson at A24’s “The Smashing Machine” L.A. premiere held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 29, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
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Ryan Bader at A24’s “The Smashing Machine” L.A. premiere after party held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 29, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
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Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia at A24’s “The Smashing Machine” L.A. premiere held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 29, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
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Kazu Hiro at A24’s “The Smashing Machine” L.A. premiere held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 29, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
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Terry Crews, Isaiah Crews at A24’s “The Smashing Machine” L.A. premiere held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 29, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
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Mark Kerr, Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt at A24’s “The Smashing Machine” L.A. premiere held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 29, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
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Bob Odenkirk at A24’s “The Smashing Machine” L.A. premiere held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 29, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
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Bill Bellamy at A24’s “The Smashing Machine” L.A. premiere held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 29, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
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