Emily Blunt drew attention on the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, revealing a toned midriff while attending the premiere of The Smashing Machine alongside husband John Krasinski and co-star Dwayne Johnson.
The 42-year-old Oscar nominee wore a black top with a sheer lace panel and keyhole cutout paired with low-waisted striped black pants, and posed with Krasinski at the Princess of Wales Theatre as the film screened during TIFF. Krasinski, 45, wore a three-piece grey suit and black tie. Johnson, 53, attended the event in a fitted black suit and drew additional attention for appearing shirtless under his jacket, showing a markedly slimmer physique.
The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie and set for release Oct. 3, is a biographical sports drama about former amateur wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr. Johnson stars as Kerr and also served as a producer. The film, adapted from John Hyams’ 2002 HBO documentary of the same name, chronicles Kerr’s rise in the sport alongside his struggles with substance abuse, a 1999 hospitalization and subsequent rehabilitation, and his personal relationships.
Emily Blunt plays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s then-wife, a role the actress said required emotional intensity. In the latest issue of PORTER Magazine, Blunt described the responsibility of portraying living people, saying actors must “do right by these people who have lived through a lot.”
Johnson underwent a notable physical transformation for the role. Media reports said the actor lost roughly 60 pounds, and that makeup and prosthetics, including a wig, were used to alter his appearance to resemble the 56-year-old former collegiate wrestler and early MMA figure. Fans on social media noted Johnson’s changed look, prompting discussion about how the weight loss was achieved. In an interview quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson said he took the role because he wanted to push himself creatively: “There was just a voice inside of me, a little voice, that said, ‘Well, what if I could do more — I want to do more and what does that look like?’”
Commenting on the physical demands of such a transformation, Kunal Makwana, a personal trainer and founder of KMAK Fitness, told the Daily Mail that a combination of a strict calorie deficit and disciplined training would typically be required to lose a large amount of weight while preserving muscle. He said that approach generally involves closely monitored portions, high protein intake and minimal processed foods.
The film also explores the friction in Kerr’s marriage and the effects of his injuries on his wife, portraying Dawn as coping with pain medication during difficult periods. The Smashing Machine was filmed in Vancouver, Los Angeles, New Mexico and Tokyo. The TIFF premiere was attended by the cast and crew, including director Benny Safdie, and figures from the mixed martial arts world who appear in or support the project.
At the screening, cast members engaged with fans on the red carpet and posed for photographs. The film will be released in October.