Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has always been known for his buff physique. However, his recent appearance at the Venice Film Festival had netizens doing a double-take.
The actor recently appeared at the 2025 Venice Film Festival for the release of his upcoming film, “The Smashing Machine”. During the film festival, Dwayne appeared at the Miu Miu Women’s Tales event on 30th August 2025 (Saturday), sporting a blue short-sleeved button-down and black trousers. However, what surprised many was his slimmed-down physique following a drastic weight loss.
According to reports, Dwayne lost a lot of weight to portray real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr in “The Smashing Machine”. In addition to losing weight for the role, Dwayne also had to apply over a dozen prosthetics and sit in a makeup chair for up to four hours per day. His drastic new image was also notable during his red carpet appearance for the film, where he walked alongside his co-stars in a grey suit.
Online, the reactions to Dwayne’s weight loss were mixed. While some praised his dedication to the role, others lamented that he looks unrecognisable. Some also joked that the 53-year-old is no longer “The Rock” and is now “The Pebble”, given his shrunken physique. However, others noted that he could begin bagging more varied acting roles as he may no longer be typecast due to his muscular figure.
In the meantime, “The Smashing Machine” has received raving reviews from critics after its premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival on 1st September 2025 (Monday). The movie received a 15-minute standing ovation during its premiere and a 100% rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. “The Smashing Machine” is set for domestic release in the United States later this October.
While Dwayne’s weight loss is surprising, the star assured fans there’s nothing to be concerned about. In fact, he said the transformation was something he wanted to do for the movie. What are your thoughts on the actor’s new look? Check out some videos of him from the Venice Film Festival:
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