Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt dazzle in London at screening of The Smashing Machine

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt stepped out in the capital for a special screening of their latest film The Smashing Machine.

The drama, which is already earning Johnson rave reviews and some early Oscars buzz, tells the story of Mark Kerr, a world champion wrestler who became one of the early stars of mixed martial arts.

Nicknamed “The Smashing Machine” for his ferocious style in the cage, Kerr’s rise was overshadowed by painkiller addiction and the toll it took on his personal life.

Johnson plays Kerr in what many critics have called the most transformative role of his career, while Blunt stars as his partner Dawn Staples.

Directed by Benny Safdie, best known for Uncut Gems, the supporting cast includes Lyndsey Gavin as Kerr’s ex-wife, Oleksandr Usyk as rival fighter Igor Vovchanchyn, Ryan Bader as fellow MMA legend Mark Coleman, Justin Gordon and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

The pair were all smiles at the event (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Emily Blunt wore a brown David Koma number and Ananya “Desert Diamonds” jewellery for the occasion (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Blunt wore a brown David Koma number to the screening and Ananya “Desert Diamonds” jewels, while “The Rock”, opted for a stylish blue suit.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month, where it received a 15-minute standing ovation and earned Safdie the Silver Lion for best director.

Variety described Johnson’s performance as “a revelation,” while The Hollywood Reporter hailed the drama as “gritty and downbeat”, but anchored by his powerful turn.

The project demanded a dramatic transformation from Johnson, who is reported to have shed an estimated 60 pounds, trained with MMA experts and spent hours in prosthetics to resemble Kerr.

Dwayne Johnson stars in the new film (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

He has described the role as his most vulnerable and challenging to date, a sharp departure from the blockbuster action films that made him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

With awards season approaching, industry insiders believe The Smashing Machine could secure Johnson his first Academy Award nomination.

Tonight’s London screening, with Johnson and Blunt leading the arrivals, marks the film’s UK debut ahead of its October 3 release and adds further momentum to one of the year’s most talked-about performances.