Ryan Bader to star alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in Mark Kerr biopic

Former Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader is taking a break from the MMA world to pursue a new venture in Hollywood. Bader has landed a role in the upcoming biopic, The Smashing Machine, which focuses on the life of UFC and PRIDE veteran Mark Kerr and also stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The 40-year-old fighter announced his involvement in the film on Saturday, revealing that he will be heading to Vancouver for a three-month stint for production. Bader expressed his excitement for the project on Instagram, giving a nod to the legends of the sport, Kerr and Mark Coleman, whose story is being brought to life on the big screen.

Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, The Smashing Machine is based on the 2002 documentary of the same name, delving into the highs and lows of Kerr’s career. The film will also feature recent Oscar nominee Emily Blunt, rumored to play Kerr’s girlfriend Dawn Staples.

For Johnson, who has been training at MMA gyms to prepare for his role as Kerr, this project has been a passion project for years. With no release date set yet, it is expected that The Smashing Machine will hit theaters in 2025.

Bader’s decision to put his fighting career on hold comes after a recent knockout loss in February. However, he had previously secured three consecutive wins, including a victory over heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko. Now, Bader joins Johnson on the cast of what promises to be a compelling and impactful film.