Bas Rutten On Playing Himself in The Smashing Machine

"In other words, Rutten had scripted lines, but was playing a younger version of himself. Mind you, director Benny Safdie didn't require Rutten to stick to the script. Rather, he gave the retired fighter a massive amount of leeway to make the role his own. So while Rutten did get a script and lines, he told Cageside Press recently, "those are just for your guidelines," the director informed him. "I want you to do what you do, because it's you! Why would I change it?""

"The experience overall, Rutten told us, "was awesome. I played myself, so I had to go back 25 years to the guy I was at the time, which was just a little more energetic. But for the rest, I've been teaching, doing everything." "Dwayne was so amazing at being Kerr, for me it was literally, I was just teaching Kerr again in the gym. Because the whole set, everything was so nice and relaxed. The way Benny Safdie works is really amazing,""

Bas Rutten performed as himself in The Smashing Machine, portraying a younger version while having scripted lines and broad permission to improvise. Director Benny Safdie presented dialogue as guidelines and encouraged Rutten to act naturally. Rutten returned mentally to the energy he had 25 years earlier while continuing his teaching career outside acting. Dwayne Johnson underwent a convincing physical and vocal transformation into Mark Kerr, including cauliflower ear and mannerisms. The production maintained a relaxed atmosphere that supported authentic performances and collaboration among fighters and actors.

Read at Cageside Press