Overview

• Following its Venice premiere, the film earned a roughly 15-minute standing ovation and a Silver Lion for director Benny Safdie.
• Trade coverage reports growing Oscar conversation around Johnson’s lead performance.
• Prosthetic designer Kazu Hiro details reshaping Johnson’s nose, adjusting brow and hairline, covering tattoos, and maintaining sweat-prone appliances during fight scenes.
• UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten portrays himself, coached Johnson on Mark Kerr’s mannerisms, and praised the performance; fighters like Ryan Bader and Oleksandr Usyk also appear.
• TKO executive Mark Shapiro says the film could catalyze more prestige wrestling and MMA stories and expand WWE’s reach to new audiences.