Dwayne Johnson is pivoting. Hard. If you’ve been following the trades lately, you know the era of the "jungle movie" might be taking a backseat for something much gritier. For a decade, we knew exactly what to expect: a massive budget, a khaki shirt, and a family-friendly adventure where the hero never really loses. But the buzz around the new The Rock movie, specifically A24’s The Smashing Machine, suggests we are about to see a version of Johnson that hasn’t existed since he was "The Artist Formerly Known as Rocky Maivia."
It’s honestly a bit of a gamble.
People are used to the billion-dollar smile. Now, they're getting a prosthetic nose and a story about drug addiction and the brutal toll of the MMA world in the early 2000s. It’s not just one film, though. There is a whole slate of projects—from Disney sequels to high-octane holiday flicks—that are trying to redefine what "The Rock" means in 2025 and 2026.
The Smashing Machine: Why This Isn't Your Typical Blockbuster
Benny Safdie is directing this one. That name alone should tell you everything. Safdie is the guy behind Uncut Gems, a movie so stressful it felt like a two-hour panic attack. By casting Johnson as Mark Kerr, Safdie is stripping away the "superhero" armor.
Kerr was a real guy. A powerhouse in the early days of the UFC and PRIDE. He was known as "The Smashing Machine," but his life outside the cage was falling apart due to an addiction to painkillers. This new The Rock movie is the first time we’ve seen Johnson lean into a true biopic since Fighting with My Family, but this time, he’s the one in the ring.
The physical transformation is already turning heads. First-look images showed a version of Johnson with hair and a completely different facial structure. He looks... human. Vulnerable. That’s a word you don't usually associate with a guy who once pulled a helicopter down with his bare hands in Hobbs & Shaw. It’s a massive play for awards season. Whether the Academy takes him seriously is another story, but the intent is clear: he wants to be an actor again, not just a brand.
The A24 Factor
Working with A24 is a specific vibe. It’s the "cool kid" studio. For Johnson, this move is about longevity. You can only run through the jungle so many times before the audience gets bored. By partnering with Safdie, he's tapping into a demographic that usually scoffs at Red Notice or Skyscraper.
Moana 2 and the Disney Machine
While The Smashing Machine handles the "prestige" side of his career, we can't ignore the massive commercial weight of Moana 2. This wasn't even supposed to be a movie. Originally, Disney was developing it as a series for Disney+. But then they saw the footage. They saw how well the original Moana continued to perform on streaming—it's basically a permanent fixture in the Nielsen Top 10.
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So, they pivoted.
Maui is back. Johnson is back. The music is being handled by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (taking over for Lin-Manuel Miranda). This is the safe bet. This is the new The Rock movie that will likely pay for five more experimental A24 films. It reminds everyone that while he can do the gritty indie stuff, he is still the undisputed king of the family box office.
Red One and the Holiday Experiment
Then there’s Red One. This project has been a bit of a rollercoaster in the news. Reports from The Wrap and other outlets suggested production delays and a ballooning budget, sometimes cited near $250 million. It’s a massive Christmas-themed action-comedy where Johnson plays the commander of the E.L.F. (Enforcement, Logistics, and Fortification) alongside Chris Evans.
Basically, it's Guardians of the Galaxy meets Miracle on 34th Street.
The pressure on this film is immense. Since it's an Amazon MGM Studios production, its success isn't just measured by the traditional box office, but by how many Prime subscriptions it drives. It’s a weird spot for a movie to be in. If it lands, it starts a new franchise. If it misses, it becomes a cautionary tale about overspending on "streaming-first" blockbusters.
The Dynamic With Chris Evans
The chemistry here is the selling point. You have Captain America and Black Adam. It’s a "buddy cop" energy that Johnson excels at. Think Central Intelligence but with more snow and mythical creatures. Honestly, the delay might have helped. It gave them more time to polish the VFX, which is usually where these massive CGI-heavy films fall apart.
What Happened to the DC Universe?
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: Black Adam.
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The fallout from that movie changed everything. Before James Gunn took over DC Studios, Johnson was positioned to be the center of that universe. Now? That door is pretty much closed. You won’t see a new The Rock movie in the DCU anytime soon.
This rejection seems to have sparked the current diversification of his roles. When the "Alpha Superhero" plan failed, he went back to the drawing board. He returned to Fast & Furious (despite the public beef with Vin Diesel). He signed on for a Live-Action Moana. He went to A24. He’s diversifying his portfolio like a smart CEO would after a bad quarter.
The Fast & Furious Return: Luke Hobbs is Back
Speaking of pivots, the post-credits scene in Fast X was a shocker. After years of saying he’d never return to the main franchise, Johnson is front and center for a standalone Hobbs movie that bridges the gap between Fast X and Fast X: Part 2.
It’s called Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Reyes.
Jason Momoa’s Dante Reyes is the villain. This is a smart move. Momoa was the best part of the last movie, and pairing his chaotic energy with Johnson’s stoic "lawman" persona is a guaranteed hit. It also shows a level of pragmatism. Johnson knows that audiences love Hobbs. He knows that the Fast fans are loyal. Even if the drama behind the scenes was real, the business of being a movie star eventually wins out.
Is the "Jungle" Era Finally Over?
For a while, every new The Rock movie looked the same. Jumanji, Jungle Cruise, Rampage. There was a lot of green. A lot of sweat.
But look at the upcoming slate:
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- The Smashing Machine (Biopic/Drama)
- Moana 2 (Animation/Musical)
- Red One (Fantasy/Action)
- Live-Action Moana (Adventure)
- Hobbs & Reyes (Action/Thriller)
It’s a much more balanced diet. He’s trying to capture the kids, the hardcore action fans, and the critics all at once. It’s an exhausting pace. Most actors take a year off after a big project. Johnson seems to have three in post-production at all times.
The Misconception of the "Never-Lose" Clause
There's been a lot of talk about a "contractual clause" that says Johnson can't lose a fight on screen. While various reports (like those in the Wall Street Journal) have discussed how action stars manage their "toughness" on screen, the Mark Kerr project will likely shatter that. You can't tell the story of a man struggling with addiction and a declining career if he wins every fight. If he’s truly committed to The Smashing Machine, we’re going to see him lose. And that might be the most refreshing thing to happen to his career in a decade.
Real-World Impact: Why We Still Care
Love him or hate him, Johnson is one of the last true "movie stars." In an era where the IP (Intellectual Property) is usually the draw—people go to see "Spider-Man," not necessarily the actor playing him—Johnson is the IP.
People go to see "The Rock movie."
His move into more serious territory with Safdie is a test of that star power. Can he bring his massive audience to a small, intimate drama? Or are they only there for the explosions? It’s a question that keeps Hollywood executives up at night because it defines whether the "Star System" is actually dead or just sleeping.
Future Outlook and Actionable Steps
If you’re trying to keep up with the new The Rock movie cycle, here is how you should prioritize your viewing and expectations:
- Watch the Mark Kerr Documentary first. If you want to understand The Smashing Machine, go find the 2002 documentary of the same name. It’s raw, it’s heartbreaking, and it will give you a benchmark to judge Johnson’s performance.
- Keep an eye on the A24 release calendar. The Smashing Machine isn't going to have a standard "Super Bowl ad" rollout. It’ll likely hit the festival circuit (think Cannes or TIFF) first. That’s where the real word-of-mouth will start.
- Manage your expectations for Red One. Don't expect Citizen Kane. It’s designed to be a "comfort watch" for the holidays. If the trailers look goofy, that’s because the movie is intentionally leanng into the absurdity of a tactical North Pole.
- Follow the Fast & Furious production updates. The timeline for Hobbs & Reyes is shifting because of the broader Fast X finale plans. If you're a fan of the "Vin vs. Rock" saga, the press tour for this movie will be more entertaining than the film itself.
The career of Dwayne Johnson is currently in a "rebranding" phase. He’s moving away from the bulletproof hero and toward something more nuanced. It’s a risky transition, but for an actor who has already conquered every other corner of entertainment, it’s really the only mountain left to climb. Keep your eyes on the festival reviews for Safdie’s film—that’s the real indicator of where the next decade of his career is headed.