Dwayne Johnson, aka ‘The Rock’, attended the Venice Film Festival on September 1 in an all-new avatar. The actor and former wrestler quickly caught everyone’s attention with his slimmed-down look at the highly anticipated new film The Smashing Machine, which had its world premiere at the festival.
In the viral photos from the event, Johnson is seen flaunting his lean physique in a button-up blue shirt and black pants. He can also be seen posing with his co-star, Emily Blunt, for photographers. Fans were quick to notice his transformation. One fan wrote, “The Rock is currently going viral after losing a lot of muscle👀.” Another fan commented, “The Rock drops 28KG! Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson shed nearly 28 kg to focus on health, agility, and longevity.” Another user added, “100% sure it was health related he dropped all that weight. He wasn’t natural he looks healthy right now good for Rock.”
🔥🚨DEVELOPING: Hollywood actor Dwayne The Rock Johnson has his fans concerned after he appeared looking like a different man in this video where he has loss almost all of his muscles. He was recently viewed as the biggest man Hollywood by most moviegoers. pic.twitter.com/A9aycw8121
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) September 1, 2025
At the premiere of his film, Dwayne was visibly emotional and could not hold back tears as he received a 15-minute standing ovation at the festival. He plays the role of 1990s fighter Mark Kerr in the film. Directed by Benny Safdie, the movie also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples.
The Rock was seen in tears whilst receiving a 15 minute standing ovation for his new movie ‘The Smashing Machine.’
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) September 1, 2025
According to AP, speaking about the role and his transformation, Johnson said at the premiere, “I have for a long time wanted this. The transformation part was something I was really hungry to do. I’ve been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had and make the films that I have, but there was just this voice inside of me, this little voice, like what if I can do more.”
Oscar buzz is already building around Dwayne’s powerful performance in the film. The actor, who has largely been known and typecast in action-comedy films, used The Smashing Machine as an opportunity to break free from that image. Speaking about the same, he explained, “The box office in our business is very loud. And it can push you into a category and into a corner: This is your lane, this is what you do, this what people want you to be in and this is what Hollywood wants you to be. And I understood that. And I made those movies, and I like them and they were fun. And some were really good and did well and some not so good.”
He added, “When you’ve been pigeonholed into something it’s hard to know, wait, can I do that?”
