Mark Kerr at 'The Smashing Machine' premiere in Toronto on September 8, 2025 (Photo by Arash Oskooie / Middle East Images via AFP) Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment As Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson plays Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine, the real life mixed martial arts legend and UFC champion has signed with Innovative Artists for representation. The A24 biopic, which screened at the Venice and Toronto film festivals, is set for a theatrical release from Oct. 3. Innovative Artists will represent Kerr for acting opportunities, endorsements, licensing, speaking appearances and merchandising. That's after The Smashing Machine recalled Kerr's rise as a UFC Hall of Famer and as an NCAA wrestling legend. During his career, Kerr won two UFC heavyweight tournaments and was an ADCC submission grappling champion. Related Stories Business MrBeast's Nolan Hansen Signs With CAA (Exclusive) Business Directors Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney Sign With Gersh (Exclusive) His UFC career became the subject of the 2002 HBO documentary, The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, that detailed Kerr's journey and struggles with addiction to pain killers. Safdie wrote and directed the indie biopic, which had Johnson (who usually stars in big budget tentpoles) sporting prosthetics on his face to help him resemble Kerr, as well as speaking with an Ohio-area accent rather than his trademark booming voice. The Smashing Machine also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr's wife. Kerr linking up with Innovative Artists comes as that talent agency expands into sports. In March, private equity firm Coral Tree Partners acquired a minority stake in the agency, which has since launched a sports division led by Brad Small. He brought clients including Jack Perry, Big Bill, and Anna Jay, and signed elite athletes like Olympic legend Greg Louganis and MMA star Ryan Bader. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up sinclair Nexstar and Sinclair Won't Air Jimmy Kimmel's Return, Impacting 66 ABC Stations Hallmark Channel Hallmark Media Inks Expanded Output Deal With Netflix (Exclusive) THR, Esq Hollywood PR Legal Brawl Escalates as MPRM Sues 42West Over Employee Defections media Oliver Darcy Staffing Up Status: Hires Brian Lowry and Natalie Korach in Expansion Push (Exclusive) Netflix Netflix Strikes Global Marketing Deal With Beverage Giant AB Inbev (Exclusive) TikTok Murdochs May Be Part of New TikTok Ownership Group, President Trump Says sinclair Nexstar and Sinclair Won't Air Jimmy Kimmel's Return, Impacting 66 ABC Stations Hallmark Channel Hallmark Media Inks Expanded Output Deal With Netflix (Exclusive) THR, Esq Hollywood PR Legal Brawl Escalates as MPRM Sues 42West Over Employee Defections media Oliver Darcy Staffing Up Status: Hires Brian Lowry and Natalie Korach in Expansion Push (Exclusive) Netflix Netflix Strikes Global Marketing Deal With Beverage Giant AB Inbev (Exclusive) TikTok Murdochs May Be Part of New TikTok Ownership Group, President Trump Says