Dwayne Johnson and Sydney Sweeney have surprisingly related movies coming quickly that would remodel their careers. Johnson has transitioned a couple of instances in his profession. He dominated the WWE as The Rock, and turned to performing within the early 2000s. He is develop into an motion star because of his roles within the Quick & Livid franchise and Jumanji, whereas nonetheless starring in family-friendly leisure like Moana.
In the meantime, Sweeney is a youthful star whose profession flourished after enjoying Cassie in Euphoria. Whereas she’s additionally been in movies like As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood, Anybody However You, and Madame Internet, she could also be greatest identified for her intercourse image standing. She’s starred in a number of provocative advertisements, together with the latest American Eagle denims marketing campaign that stirred up dialog on-line.
Nonetheless, each actors are at factors of their careers the place they need to tackle more difficult initiatives. Johnson’s position in The Smashing Machine and Sweeney’s position in Christy appear like each of their extra daring performances thus far. The movies themselves are strikingly related, and the transformations they underwent for the roles may result in the outcomes they’re each striving for.
Each Actors Reworked Themselves To Play Actual-life Skilled Fighters
Johnson and Sweeney are each enjoying real-life fighters in upcoming biopics. Johnson is coming into the octagon as MMA fighter Mark Kerr whereas Sweeney is exploring the world of ladies’s boxing as Christy Martin. For each roles, the 2 actors underwent coaching regiments and remodeled their appearances, a typical mark of an awards-friendly efficiency.
Whereas Johnson already has a big stature, the Black Adam star revealed he “needed to acquire 30 kilos” for the position. Talking with E! on the 2025 Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition, Johnson shared his intense coaching course of that required cardio and loads of MMA coaching:
Cardio within the morning, then I’d go eat breakfast, after which I’d go practice, after which I’d go eat once more after which I’d return for all of the MMA coaching.
Sweeney additionally launched into an analogous path for her position as Christy Martin. Whereas talking at a panel for Deadline, the Americana actor revealed she gained 30 kilos for her position, however loved “having the ability to practice and work with unbelievable boxing coaches and weight trainers and nutritionists” to get the position proper.
Along with their coaching, the actors additionally utilized make-up to vary how they seem on-screen. Johnson seems virtually unrecognizable as Kerr, and Sweeney additionally has the rugged and hard look of Christy Martin. Skilled combating is a brutal world, and each actors dedicated to creating their characters genuine. That stage of dedication will not escape many individuals’s discover, and will mark a turning level for each.
Dwayne Johnson And Sydney Sweeney Are Redefining Their Careers In These Roles
For a very long time, Johnson dominated the field workplace and nonetheless does in sure circumstances. Nevertheless, after flops like Black Adam and Pink One, he does not have the identical field workplace star energy that he used to have. This might clarify why he is looking for to show himself as a extra dramatic actor, therefore becoming a member of an A24 biopic helmed by Benny Safdie.
It marks an enormous change for the actor, and it was an intentional determination. Talking at a press convention on the 82nd Venice Worldwide Movie Competition, Johnson admitted to dropping curiosity in doing movies only for the field workplace. He wished to tackle more difficult roles, and requested himself if he was able to extra, explaining:
I simply had this burning want and voice that was saying, ‘What if there may be extra and what if I can?’ Typically it is laborious for us to know what we’re able to after we’ve been pigeonholed into one thing.
Sweeney has additionally been exploring more difficult roles earlier than Christy. She confirmed glorious vary in Immaculate, and beforehand portrayed a fancy real-life individual in HBO’s Actuality. Nevertheless, Christy is a vital position for her, particularly amid her controversial American Eagle advertisements.
Christy will not show that she is a gifted actor as she has already confirmed that earlier than. Nevertheless, there are numerous who nonetheless see her as a intercourse image, and who are inclined to get caught up her controversies reasonably than the work. That is arguably the highest-profile position she has to vary that notion, particularly after her earlier movies this yr flopped on the field workplace. Christy has extra buzz than these titles.
Will Johnson And Sweeney Get Awards Consideration?
Evaluations are already on-line for each movies after their premieres at numerous movie festivals. The Smashing Machine presently holds a 79% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, however the widespread consensus is that Johnson’s efficiency is spectacular. Award exhibits like to honor actors who remodel themselves for a task, so it would not be fully stunning to see him get a nomination.
Sadly, Christy has a extra blended response from critics. It presently holds a 65% critic rating, which suggests it is not essentially getting the awards buzz Sweeney could also be searching for. Nevertheless, critics are nonetheless praising her efficiency, so there may be an outsider’s probability that she might be a competitor. Each actors took large swings with these roles, however it might depend upon general movie high quality.
Johnson‘s The Smashing Machine additionally has the good thing about Safdie’s path, who has obtained award love earlier than. This mission is arguably greatest positioned to make a mark in the course of the upcoming season. Christy‘s David Michôd is a lesser-known director, however nonetheless appears to have captured Sweeney‘s efficiency admirably. There’s nonetheless an extended method to go earlier than awards season, however these two actors may discover themselves within the combine.
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The Smashing Machine
4/10
- Launch Date
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October 3, 2025
- Runtime
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123 minutes
- Director
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Benny Safdie
- Writers
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Benny Safdie
- Producers
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Beau Flynn, David Koplan, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia
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Christy
5/10
- Launch Date
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November 7, 2025
- Runtime
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135 minutes
- Director
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David Michôd
- Writers
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Mirrah Foulkes, David Michôd
- Producers
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Brent Stiefel, Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Sydney Sweeney, Teddy Schwarzman, John Friedberg, Michael Heimler, Justin Lothrop, Brad Zimmerman, David Levine
