Yesterday, A24 released a first look at Dwayne Johnson in ‘The Smashing Machine’ and I had suspected that they might want to rush this one for this year since 2024 lacks prestige contenders, which is no doubt an effect of last year’s strikes.
Jeff Sneider is being told, by reliable sources, that Benny Safdie’s MMA drama is being turned around in time for a December release date — and this time, the studio will be ready to mount an Oscar campaign for the film.
I would hope A24 has learned from last year’s folly where they basically dumped Sean Durkin’s “The Iron Claw,” stripping it of a fall festival premiere and barely screening it enough, and on time, to press for top 10 lists, critics’ awards and voting bodies.
Dwayne Johnson is obviously going for an Oscar here, it’s a substantial role for him, and he’s going head on in his insistence that he wants to start making meaningful movies. The film is currently in production, and will continue to shoot until the first week of July.