Dwayne Johnson looks unrecognisable in first-look at new movie role

Dwayne Johnson looks absolutely unrecognisable in a first-look at his new movie role.

The ‘Rock’ is starring in a new biographical drama alongside the likes of Emily Blunt, Lyndsey Gavin and recently-titled undisputed heavyweight champion, Olesksandr Usyk.

Johnson stars as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, telling the story of the mixed-martial arts and UFC champion.

Set to release in 2025, the new film about Kerr is directed by Benny Safdie, known for the likes of Uncut Gems and Good Time.

This will be Safdie's first solo feature directorial project and he previously acted alongside Blunt in Oppenheimer. It's reported he first connected on this Kerr project with Johnson back in 2019, but things were put on hold.

Mark Kerr in 1997. ( Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Johnson previously told Variety he was partly attracted to The Smashing Machine because: "Benny wants to create, and continues to push the envelope when it comes to stories that are raw and real, characters that are authentic and at times uncomfortable and arresting.

"I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past. I’m at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter, that explore a humanity and explore struggle [and] pain."

An image shared this afternoon (21 May) shows the Rock topless, sitting in the corner of a ring.

The 52-year-old also seems to have a full head of hair - different to his usual shiny bald head.

Looking typically ripped for the role, it also seems like Johnson has some facial prosthetics going on to transform him into the MMA legend.

Johnson in the new film. (A24)

Johnson doesn’t look like his usual self in the snap as fans reacted on X, writing: “Dwayne looks totally different, bro’s finally gonna act.”

Another echoed: “I actually had to zoom in to make sure that was him because wow… literally unrecognizable!”

While one noted: “He finally looked different in a movie,” in reference to how the Rock often tends to look like, well, himself in a lot of roles.

Others even said: “That’s THE ROCK??? Holy sh*t looks unrecognizable.”

One couldn't believe 'the rock has hair', while many shared their excitement for The Smashing Machine as they wrote: "THIS IS GONNA BE SO FIRE HOLY."

During his MMA career, Kerr was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, as well as picking up many other titles.

A 2002 documentary, also titled The Smashing Machine detailed much of his career as well as his relationships and struggle with substance abuse.

It's reported that years after Johnson and Safdie first put things on hold, Blunt rang the Rock after watching the doc and told him: "You must make this movie."