Bas Rutten: The Rock Is Mark Kerr In ‘The Smashing Machine†In Every Little Detail

Bas Rutten is very impressed with how committed The Rock was to playing Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine.

Rutten spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about his role in The Smashing Machine. Rutten, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, appears in the movie inspired by Mark Kerrâ€s life. He spoke about working with Dwayne “The Rock†Johnson on the film, and said although they just met, it felt like he was around the real-life Kerr again.

“I just met him on the film for the first time. Weâ€ve been in contact quite a bit online, always interacting, [but the film set is] where I met him the first time,†Rutten said. “He grabbed me and he gave me a big kiss on my head and I go, ‘Okay.†And then I realized, ‘Oh, that was Kerr.†Kerr was always doing that to me.

“Him coming in with all the fight scenes, whatever it was, he was just glued to me, and he says, ‘I want you to do everything. All the directions, I want come from you because you were there. You were actually doing it.†That was the same with Benny Safdie, the director. He also said, ‘Read the script. The script is just to give you a guideline. You say whatever you want to say because itâ€s you. Just be Bas again from 25 years ago.â€

Photo Credit: Eric Zachanowich / A24

Bas Rutten says The Rock made working on The Smashing Machine very easy

Rutten joked that it took “an extra few cups of coffee†to do that because he was younger at the time the film takes place. He explained that working on set went really well, even saying it was pretty easy since Johnson nailed the role.

“People go like “Easy?†Yeah, but the only reason it was easy [was] because DJ was Kerr from the moment he walked in and started speaking. The way he walked, the way heâ€s fighting, if you see him fight in the ring in the movie, pull up a fight from Kerr and [look at] the way he stands. He always had this weird stance, more straight. I always told [Kerr to] stand more over, but he would always stand like this [straight up]. The way he moves his mouth, the way he speaks and cries in the movie, even the movements of the mouth when he cries, it was Kerr.â€

Rutten said this made the set very relaxed and calm, and he just got to teach Johnson just like he taught Kerr, his student, 25 years ago. Rutten didnâ€t agree that Johnson went as far as method acting, but said when he was on the set, he was Mark Kerr.

The 2015 UFC Hall of Famer said Johnson is a busy guy and has the spotlight on him constantly. He noted that itâ€s probably hard to commit to method acting like that, let alone pump his own gas or go to the grocery store without being recognized. After seeing the film on an IMAX screen, Rutten picked up on more traits that highlighted just how much effort Johnson put in to accurately portray Kerr in the film.

“The shoulders that he developed, the ‘Kerr shoulders,â€â€ Rutten noted. “That took a lot of work. I didnâ€t [initially] talk to him about it. It was the first thing I said, though [when I noticed]. When I saw him, I go, ‘Did you work to get the Kerr shoulders?†I know that his coach was there and he said, ‘Yeah, we worked really hard on that.†I can only imagine. So having a guy walk in that like that, walking up straight the way he normally walks, the way he fights, walks when he fights, heâ€s Kerr. He did his homework, 100% in every little detail.â€

Bas Rutten shares what he hopes viewers take from The Smashing Machine

Rutten said The Smashing Machine shows people that everything is not all “nice and dandy†in the spotlight. You never know what people on TV are going through, and the film shows what really goes on behind the scenes. Rutten highlighted how like Johnson as Kerr, Emily Blunt nailed the part of his ex-wife, Dawn Staples.

“When I saw her, boom, thatâ€s Dawn. It was the first time on the set, we made a picture for a release of the thing. I met her first in regular clothing, but then suddenly I heard something behind me,†he said. “She was standing there in a dress like Dawn, and her hair like Dawn. I said to a friend, ‘Iâ€m getting goosebumps.†Itâ€s amazing. The whole aura, everything, [Emily] was her.â€

He pointed out that the movie shows that a toxic relationship or home life can also impact your professional life. Rutten considers himself lucky to have a wife who understands what kind of balance and dedication heâ€s looking for. Some people might believe fighters will settle things in the ring and at home by fighting more, but most times, Rutten noted, they want the opposite.

“We donâ€t. We want peace and quiet. The more quiet your mind is, the better you fight. If you can come completely relaxed, mindful to a fight, thatâ€s the only thing you need, pretty much,†Rutten said. “Now we find out thatâ€s not always the case. There could be some struggles. When I read the script the first time, I was like, ‘Oh boy.†I knew [Mark and Dawn] had some trouble at home, but I didnâ€t know that. You will see it. Thereâ€s some scenes when Emily had like a smirk on her face before a big fight starts. I go, ‘Whoa.†Itâ€s like thatâ€s completely psychopathic. Itâ€s impressive.â€

The Smashing Machine opens in theatres worldwide on October 3.

Read More: The Smashing Machine: Ryan Bader On Working With The Rock, Making Fights Look Real

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