Even with only one-half of the talented directing duo, everything about Dwayne Johnson teaming up with Benny Safdie on “The Smashing Machine” simply feels right. Although many fans will be quick to point out that professional wrestling and MMA fighting are, in fact, two completely different things, one can easily understand the appeal of Johnson returning to his roots (so to speak) after dipping his toes in the water with the wrestling-themed “Fighting with My Family” in 2019. As for Safdie, he could certainly do a lot worse than following the Coen brothers’ route of working together with his sibling on multiple well-received and critically acclaimed films before striking out on his own to stretch his wings a bit. It helps quite a lot that the Safdies have gained a quick reputation of getting the absolute most out of their idiosyncratic and brand-name actors, as well.
A24 is clearly feeling bullish on this production, as executive Noah Sacco released the following statement about the news:
“Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying. We are deeply honored to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life.”
Johnson still has “Red Notice 2” on his docket, along with the next “Fast” movie after “Fast X” teased his improbable return, so it may be a little while before “The Smashing Machine” makes its way to theaters. Meanwhile, Safdie has stayed busy working on the Emma Stone/Nathan Fielder-starring Showtime series “The Curse” while also starring in “Oppenheimer,” “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.,” and the Disney+ series “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”