Dwayne Johnson makes rare red-carpet appearance with Ava Raine at The Smashing Machine screening in London

Dwayne Johnson made a rare red-carpet appearance in London on Wednesday, walking the carpet with his daughter Ava Raine as they joined Emily Blunt at The Smashing Machine screening. The Rock stars in the forthcoming biopic, with Blunt portraying Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples. The event underscored the film’s promotion ahead of its fall release and highlighted a family moment on a public stage.

On the carpet, Johnson wore a navy-blue suit paired with an open-collared white shirt. Ava Raine, 24, stood out in a black strappy dress adorned with delicate floral detailing, finished with chunky black heels and a choker. Blunt, 42, appeared in a long-sleeved brown mini dress with a train, complemented by sheer brown polka-dot tights and bold red open-toe heels. The trio drew photographers’ attention as they posed together, with other guests circulating around the premiere area.

Other stars spotted at the screening included Benny Safdie, Tatyanna Dumas, Jack Farthing, and Jodie McCallum, according to the event’s coverage. The gathering framed a night of Hollywood attention around a project that places Johnson in a markedly different physical portrayal from his usual action roles.

The Smashing Machine chronicles the life of former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, with Johnson portraying Kerr and Blunt taking on the role of his wife, Dawn Staples, an Arizona-based recovering alcoholic who wed Kerr in Las Vegas. The biopic tracks Kerr’s ascent in the sport and his off-the-ring battles, including the substance-use challenges that accompanied his career. Johnson’s casting and commitment to the transformation have been highlighted as central to the film’s dramatic momentum.

To achieve the look of a 56-year-old Kerr, Johnson underwent a striking physical transformation. Reports note that he lost about 60 pounds and relied on prosthetics and a wig to resemble the former collegiate wrestler turned mixed martial arts champion. The drama extends beyond in-ring action to explore the emotional and relational dimensions of Kerr’s life, including his struggle with substance abuse and the support system surrounding his career.

"This transformation was something I was really hungry to do," Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter last month, emphasizing the dual focus of the film on sport and personal resilience. The actor framed the project as an opportunity to tell a love story anchored in Kerr’s relationship with Dawn Staples, as well as his enduring passion for fighting and the pressures of delivering in the ring. The film’s creators have described the portrayal as a nuanced look at a high-profile athlete whose career intersected with significant personal challenges.

The Smashing Machine is adapted from John Hyams’ 2002 HBO documentary of the same name, which documented Kerr’s career and his battles with addiction. The new feature-length take expands the documentary’s themes into a narrative drama, providing actors with a broader canvas to explore Kerr’s life beyond the ring.

The film is slated for release on October 3, positioning Johnson’s performance to be a key spotlight for the fall film season. The project comes as the actor has continued to pursue diverse roles that test his range, including the physical discipline required for Kerr’s portrayal and the emotional complexity of a man navigating fame, addiction, and personal relationships.

In a broader health note connected to his public appearances and performance preparation, Johnson previously discussed his wellness journey in June during an appearance on Dr. Mark Hyman’s show. He described turning to a functional medicine approach to address a gut-related issue. Hyman described how Johnson’s regimen focused on addressing root causes rather than merely treating symptoms, including a dietary and probiotic strategy designed to rehabilitate the gut lining damaged by previous antibiotic use. The doctor cited a regimen that involved plant compounds and probiotic support intended to restore balance and overall health, which Johnson has described as a pivotal part of his preparation and recovery.

The Smashing Machine’s release window and Johnson’s dramatic transformation make the project a notable entry in a year when the actor has continued to diversify his filmography while maintaining high-profile appearances on the red carpet. The London screening offered fans a first-use glimpse of a performance that promises to challenge audience expectations about the star’s range and the scope of the biopic’s emotional core.