Overview

• In new interviews, Johnson calls the Mark Kerr role the hardest of his career, citing extensive prosthetics, a reworked voice and roughly 30 pounds of added wrestler‑style muscle he held for months.
• He tells talkSPORT he trained for fast‑twitch strength in traps, back and legs while staying agile for the ring and cage, preparing with Kerr and other fighters after a 12‑week WWE camp.
• The film premiered at Venice, where Safdie won the Silver Lion for Best Director, helping propel early awards chatter around Johnson’s performance.
• Early reviews praise a raw portrait of addiction and an intense domestic dynamic with Emily Blunt co‑starring, with some critics offering more measured assessments of how far the transformation goes.
• A24’s final push includes Safdie’s viral New York subway promotion as the film heads into U.S. theaters on October 3.