After an eventful weekend at the
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, whose role in boxing movie “The Smashing Machine” is marking a dramatic turn in his acting career, has said he felt “pigeon-holed” as a blockbuster star.
The former WWE wrestler – who is known for portraying charismatic and athletic characters in high-octane action movies such as the “Fast & Furious” film franchise, “San Andreas” and “Skyscraper” – takes on the role of a much more nuanced character, MMA and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, in his latest film.
The real-life Kerr was the subject of a 2002 HBO documentary that chronicled his substance abuse and explored the brutality of the sport to which he had dedicated his life.
Johnson cried as “The Smashing Machine” received a 15-minute standing ovation at the world premiere of the movie at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Monday night.
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Dwayne Johnson says he felt ‘pigeon-holed’ as Hollywood blockbuster star
By
Amarachi Orie
39 min ago
Dwayne Johnson attends "The Smashing Machine" red carpet during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Monday.
Dwayne Johnson attends "The Smashing ...
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, whose role in boxing movie “The Smashing Machine” is marking a dramatic turn in his acting career, has said he felt “pigeon-holed” as a blockbuster star.
The former WWE wrestler – who is known for portraying charismatic and athletic characters in high-octane action movies such as the “Fast & Furious” film franchise, “San Andreas” and “Skyscraper” – takes on the role of a much more nuanced character, MMA and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, in his latest film.
The real-life Kerr was the subject of a 2002 HBO documentary that chronicled his substance abuse and explored the brutality of the sport to which he had dedicated his life.
Johnson cried as “The Smashing Machine” received a 15-minute standing ovation at the world premiere of the movie at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Monday night.
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After an eventful weekend at the Venice Film Festival, Eleni Giokos chats with The Hollywood Reporter's European Bureau Chief Scott Roxborough about the films that are making a splash, and the politics woven into the occasion. .jpeg)
Hollywood gathers for a week of glamour in Venice 4:37 “A lot of times, it’s harder for us, or at least for me, sometimes to know what you’re capable of when you’ve been pigeon-holed into something,” Johnson told reporters in Venice. “You know, when you’re in Hollywood, as we all know, it had become about box office. And it can be very resounding and it can push you into a category and into a corner,” he continued, before admitting that he gave into the commercial pressure. The 53-year-old – who joined the board directors for TKO Group Holdings, the company consisting of the merged WWE and UFC – will soon return for the new season of ESPN’s football talk show “Manningcast.” “The Smashing Machine,” directed by Benny Safdie, will premiere in Canada at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, before debuting in the United States and the United Kingdom the following month.
.jpeg)
After an eventful weekend at the Venice Film Festival, Eleni Giokos chats with The Hollywood Reporter's European Bureau Chief Scott Roxborough about the films that are making a splash, and the politics woven into the occasion.
.jpeg)
Hollywood gathers for a week of glamour in Venice 4:37 “A lot of times, it’s harder for us, or at least for me, sometimes to know what you’re capable of when you’ve been pigeon-holed into something,” Johnson told reporters in Venice. “You know, when you’re in Hollywood, as we all know, it had become about box office. And it can be very resounding and it can push you into a category and into a corner,” he continued, before admitting that he gave into the commercial pressure. The 53-year-old – who joined the board directors for TKO Group Holdings, the company consisting of the merged WWE and UFC – will soon return for the new season of ESPN’s football talk show “Manningcast.” “The Smashing Machine,” directed by Benny Safdie, will premiere in Canada at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, before debuting in the United States and the United Kingdom the following month.