Dwayne Johnson stars in ‘The Smashing Machine.’ (A24)A new biopic called The Smashing Machine enters the ring this weekend, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt. Johnson plays Mark Kerr, a real-life mixed martial arts fighter who battles an opioid addiction while rising through the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Director Benny Safdie tells ABC Audio he has a long history with the sport and remembers watching professional fighting on TV as a kid. “Like when you look at it from the outside you would never expect that.”He says those experiences helped inform The Smashing Machine. He previously helmed two films, 2017’s Good Time and 2019’s Uncut Gems, alongside his brother Josh Safdie.