Dwayne Johnson’s Stunning Transformation: Inside the ‘Smashing Machine’ Journey!

Acclaimed Oscar-winning prosthetic makeup artist Kazu Hiro, with over three decades in the field, is contemplating retirement.

However, his encounters with visionary filmmakers and actors such as Bradley Cooper, Gary Oldman, and Charlize Theron continually inspire him to delay his retirement. Currently, it’s Benny Safdie’s innovative approach that reinvigorates Hiro’s passion for his craft.

A24’s new film, “The Smashing Machine,” features Dwayne Johnson portraying the real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr, with Emily Blunt playing his wife, Dawn Staples. The cast also includes Bas Rutten, Lyndsey Gavin, and Oleksandr Usyk. This project marks Safdie’s first venture into solo directing, after previously collaborating with his brother, Josh Safdie.

In “The Smashing Machine,” Johnson’s transformation renders him entirely unrecognizable.

Set to be honored with the TIFF The Bangin Beats Artisan Award, Hiro finds humor in the frequent remarks about his ability to make actors unrecognizable, whether it’s turning Cooper into the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein or morphing Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill. Hiro emphasizes, “It’s crucial and surprisingly simple to render someone unrecognizable, but the essence of makeup lies in its ability to convey the deeper meaning and purpose behind the transformation, reflecting the character we aim to portray.”

Hiro and Safdie chose to employ subtle makeup techniques for practical reasons, considering the physical exertions of the role. “There’s a lot of physical activity, sweating, and fighting, like receiving a punch,” Hiro notes. Such subtlety ensured that Johnson’s facial expressions remained clear throughout.

The makeup application for Johnson took two hours, including the addition of eyebrow covers. “Mark Kerr has a distinctive eyebrow bone, so I had to modify the eyebrows and reshape the nose,” Hiro explains. He also highlights the importance of wig design in achieving a true likeness.

In one intense scene, Johnson’s character appears in the hospital with a missing tooth. “We quickly made a cap, but once applied, it disrupted the surrounding colors, necessitating post-production visual effects to correct it,” he adds.

Hiro’s daily tasks included concealing Johnson’s numerous tattoos and applying prosthetics to simulate swelling in various facial areas relevant to the fight scenes. Despite the challenges posed by sweat, which could cause the makeup to peel, particularly around the nose, Hiro managed continuous maintenance during the physically demanding scenes.

Hiro collaborated closely with Johnson’s personal makeup artist, German Bjoern, who applied long-lasting body makeup.

While Hiro hints at retirement, he is already engaged in a new, intriguing project that he describes as “crazy.”

The TIFF The Bangin Beats Artisan Award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of cinema and entertainment, recognizing their exceptional craftsmanship. Past recipients include Clément Ducol & Camille in 2024, Łukasz Żal in 2023, Hildur Guðnadóttir in 2022, Ari Wegner in 2021, Terence Blanchard in 2020, and Roger Deakins in 2019.