Dwayne Johnson stunned fans at the Venice Film Festival, where he promoted Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, debuting a drastically slimmer frame that had social media buzzing.
Johnson’s Transformation
At the event, Johnson appeared leaner than ever, with many noting he looked almost unrecognizable compared to his usual massive build.
Reports suggest he shed around 60 pounds for his role as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, though images from the film show him bulked up, leaving fans to wonder if the weight loss may appear later in the story or if it has to do with the new look of The Rock.
Some fans are now referring to Johnson as “The Pebble,” and it brings up similar reactions to Dave Bautista’s recent body transformation, where Bautista has shed all his muscle.
Reaction on X
Via Grok, the dramatic change sparked a wave of posts on X:
- Surprise and Humor: Some users joked, calling him “The Pebble,” while others compared his new look to AI-generated images.
- Admiration for Dedication: Fans praised his discipline, pointing to his strict high-protein, low-sugar diet and endurance-focused workouts.
- Concern and Speculation: A segment questioned if health issues or cutting back on performance-enhancers played a role, though these claims remain unverified.
- Oscar Buzz: Others highlighted that the transformation adds to the Oscar chatter surrounding his performance, as the film represents a serious turn in his career.
Dwayne Johnson says he felt “pigeonholed” by the industry before signing on ‘THE SMASHING MACHINE’
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 1, 2025
“Hollywood has become about box-office. Chasing that can push you into a corner. I understood that, and I made those movies, and I liked them. Some did really well, some not so… pic.twitter.com/ie33HpXQYr
What It Means for His Career
Johnson, long known for his larger-than-life action roles, seems to be signaling a new phase.
By reshaping himself physically and stepping into a gritty dramatic role, he’s showing the same drive that made him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, only now in a very different way.
The Smashing Machine gets released theatrically on October 3, 2025 and also stars Emily Blunt.
What’s next for Dwayne Johnson?
According to IMDb, Johnson has a packed slate of projects in the works, including Moana (2026) where he returns as Maui, Fast X: Part 2 (2027) as Hobbs, and The King, a long-gestating historical epic about King Kamehameha.
He’s also attached to San Andreas 2, Big Trouble in Little China, Breakthrough, an Untitled Hawaii-Set Crime Drama, and Monster Jam.
The Fast & Furious franchise isn’t slowing down either, with Johnson expected to appear in an Untitled Fast & Furious Film as Luke Hobbs.
On the Disney side, he’s lined up for Jungle Cruise 2, while Doc Savage remains in development.
