The Rock to Play UFC Legend Mark Kerr in Upcoming Film

The worlds of wrestling, Hollywood and MMA will collide, as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has announced he’s starring in and producing a film about UFC legend Mark Kerr. Johnson announced the film at the UFC 244 press conference (THR), noting that Kerr will be involved in the film.

Johnson said that he’d seen Kerr’s 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr several times. “I was drawn to this because he has such a compelling story,” Johnson said. “Yes, he achieved so much in his life, but like all of us, like all of these fighters, he battled these demons.”

Johnson will produce with Dany Garcia through their Seven Bucks Productions banner along with Seven Bucks production president Hiram Garcia.

Kerr began fighting in the UFC at UFC 14 in 1997 and would go on to become a two-time UFC heavyweight tournament winner. He also competed in PRIDE FC and M-1 Global among other promotions. The HBO documentary documentred Kerr’s successes, but also his addiction to painkillers.