Overview

• Images of Johnson’s noticeably slimmer look at the festival went viral, tied to his portrayal of UFC champion Mark Kerr.
• Johnson framed the project as a personal pivot toward more vulnerable work, saying the film let him live his own dream for the first time.
• The screening prompted a standing ovation reported at about 15 minutes, with Johnson in tears alongside Emily Blunt, director Benny Safdie, and Kerr.
• Production relied on extensive makeup and prosthetics, with reports of more than a dozen pieces and up to four hours daily, and some outlets also cited significant weight loss.
• A24 set an October 3 theatrical release, as early coverage positions both the film and Johnson’s performance as awards-season contenders.