Overview

• Dwayne Johnson details drawing on childhood hardship for Benny Safdie’s biopic role, saying the process made him more empathetic and left him openly nervous on set.
• Transformation reporting cites daily multi-hour prosthetics by Kazu Hiro, voice coaching to match Mark Kerr’s tone, intensive MMA work at Black House, and a reported 60-pound weight loss.
• Emily Blunt co-stars as Dawn Staples, with the A24 film set for an October 3 theatrical release following its warmly received Venice premiere.
• Festival reaction included a lengthy standing ovation and strong early notices, with Looper noting an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score at the time of its report.
• Commercial expectations have ticked up from Box Office Pro’s initial $6–$10 million opening projection to a Deadline-suggested near-$20 million possibility, as UFC’s Dana White publicly praised the film and touted Johnson and Blunt’s performances.