Ryan Bader will not be appearing in the Smashing Machines cast for at least a few more months after joining the cast.
The Bellator MMA heavyweight champion recently announced on social media that he has been cast in the biopic of UFC and Pride Fighting Championship veteran Mark Carr, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“I’m taking a short hiatus from mixed martial arts competition as I head to Vancouver for about 3 months,” Bader wrote on Instagram. “I’m excited to be a part of this great project.” [director] Benny Safdie. A tribute to sports legends Mark Kerr and Mark Coleman. This crazy sport has its ups and downs. ”
Smashing Machine, produced by A24 and starring Emily Blunt, is scheduled to be released in 2025. It’s unclear at this time exactly what role Vader will play in the film, which is based on the 2002 documentary of the same name. According to imdb.com, the film is “based on true events surrounding Carr’s life and rise in mixed martial arts, which was unfortunately derailed by opioid addiction.”
Bader last competed in the PFL vs. Bellator on February 24, when he lost a 21-second technical knockout to 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira. The Arizona native remains the Bellator heavyweight champion with three successful title defenses.
