“In a way, ‘The Smashing Machine’ is a love letter to the men and women who struggle,” he said of his latest film
Dwayne Johnson says that his latest film is dedicated to his friends who have battled addiction and depression.
Speaking with Variety on Thursday, Dec. 18, Johnson, 53, spoke about the inspiration behind The Smashing Machine, which tells the story of UFC legend Mark Kerr (Johnson) and his then-wife, Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), as he battled a rocky personal life to become one of the most prolific wrestlers and mixed martial artists in history.
“Over the past two decades, I lost exactly 15 friends to addiction and suicide who just couldn’t handle the pressure,” the former professional wrestler told the outlet.
“In a way, The Smashing Machine is a love letter to the men and women who struggle, who have made it on the other side, and who didn’t make it on the other side,” he continued. “So Smashing Machine became more of a film, so that’s the thing.”
The Moana star has been candid in the past about being surrounded by friends and family who have battled suicidal thoughts, including his mother, Ata Johnson, who attempted suicide when he was just 15 years old by walking into oncoming traffic on a Nashville highway. Johnson has also spoken about his own struggles with depression.
“Help ‘em thru it, get ‘em talkin’ about the struggle and remind ‘em that they’re not alone,” he said on social media back in 2018. “We got lucky that day when I was 15, and that ain’t always the case.”
Johnson first told the frightening story about watching his mother attempt suicide for OWN’s Oprah’s Master Class in 2015. He also touched on the depression he felt at the age of 23 after he didn’t make it into the NFL and was cut from the Canadian Football League, ending his dreams of playing professional football.
“I found that with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone. You’re not the first to go through it,” he said at the time. “I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and [say], ‘Hey, it’s going to be okay.’ “
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In 2024, he shared a video on Instagram in honor of World Mental Health Day and shared advice about checking in with friends who may be struggling.
“Everybody is fighting demons and a lot of people keep it in. A lot of people don’t talk about it and I learned that, in many cases, the hard way over the years,” he said. “So when I check in with my friends I don’t check in and say, ‘Hey what’s wrong?’ I check in and say, ‘How’s your heart? How are you feeling?’ And you’d be surprised what that means to people.”
“I know what it’s like to struggle with mental health. I know what it’s like to spiral… I’ve been there,” he said, noting that he calls it bouts of “mental hellness.”
“So just a reminder to check in on your friends,” he stressed. “Check in on your loved ones because when you don’t… I’ve lost friends over the years who decided to check out and just couldn’t handle the stress and the pressure of life. The mental hellness all became too much for them.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.