Progressive Artists Leisure has signed Mark Kerr, the previous wrestler and combined martial artist performed by Dwayne Johnson in A24’s upcoming movie The Smashing Machine, for illustration in endorsements, licensing, talking engagements, appearances, merchandising, and performing.
A former NCAA Division I wrestling champion and World Cup gold medalist, Kerr exploded onto the MMA scene within the late ’90s, profitable back-to-back UFC heavyweight tournaments earlier than happening to compete in Japan’s PRIDE Combating Championships. Nicknamed “The Smashing Machine” for his depth within the ring, Kerr additionally over the course of his profession earned a number of ADCC world titles.
Beforehand, Kerr’s story was chronicled within the HBO doc The Smashing Machine: The Life and Occasions of Excessive Fighter Mark Kerr, directed by John Hyams. Like that movie, A24’s Kerr biopic The Smashing Machine takes an unflinching take a look at his life and profession, inspecting each the highlights and the lowlights, together with the accidents that led to an opioid dependancy and the emotional price of being a fighter. Written, directed and produced by Benny Safdie, with Emily Blunt co-starring, the movie received Safdie the Silver Lion in its premiere on the Venice Movie Pageant. It’s put Johnson on track for his first large awards run and is slated for launch in theaters on Friday, October third, when it’s anticipated to open to a stable $20M+.
Phrase of Kerr’s Progressive signing comes amid the company’s continued growth into sports activities. The company introduced in March that personal fairness agency Coral Tree Companions had assumed a minority stake, at the moment rebranding all departments beneath the title Progressive Artists Leisure. Since then, the corporate has grown its sports activities division, hiring Brad Small, who introduced purchasers together with Jack Perry, Large Invoice, and Anna Jay, and signing athletes reminiscent of Olympic legend Greg Louganis and MMA star Ryan Bader.
