EXCLUSIVE: A24‘s Dwayne Johnson-starring and Benny Safdie-directed The Smashing Machine, about MMA fighter Mark Kerr, has set a theatrical release date of October 3, 2025.

The news comes in the wake of Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael looking to vacate that date as it mulls a two-part release strategy. The Smashing Machine now pushes its way onto a weekend against Paramount’s Derek Cianfrance-directed Roofman starring Channing Tatum, and Neon’s next Oz Perkins horror film The Keeper. That’s the quite the auteur brawl.

Safdie also wrote and produced Smashing Machine, which features Johnson’s The Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt.

Pic follows Kerr (Johnson) from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career as he questions himself and struggles with life and his relationships. Meanwhile, Mark’s girlfriend Dawn Staples (Blunt) struggles as well to find her place in Mark’s chaotic and contradictory world.

Producers include Safdie via his Out for the Count banner, and Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia for Seven Bucks Productions. David Koplan and Eli Bush are also producers.

Kerr was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner, a Pride FC heavyweight champion, 1992 NCAA national wrestling champion, 1994 National Freestyle Champion and 4x ADCC World Submission Champion. In 2003, he was the subject of an HBO documentary titled The Smashing Machine which detailed his MMA career fighting in Vale Tudo, the UFC and Pride.