Dwayne Johnson says being passed over for an Oscar nomination motivated him rather than discouraged him. The actor, who starred in A24's The Smashing Machine, spoke openly about the snub in a recent interview.
"It would have been incredible to get nominated for an Oscar," he told Esquire. "I realized very quickly that it's a rare thing to reach this pinnacle where you're even having these conversations. And it's exciting!"
Johnson continued: "It would have been amazing. I wish it happened. But it didn't. But in no uncertain terms did I ever think, Oh, that doesn't matter. I always thought it mattered. And it has lit a fire in my spine, which is: Let's go back to work."
According to Deadline, Johnson stars as real-life UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the film, which follows Kerr's rise to greatness in the sport during the 1990s and his subsequent struggle with painkiller addiction. The film also stars Emily Blunt and UFC fighter Ryan Bader.
The Smashing Machine premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it received a 15.5-minute standing ovation and won the Silver Lion. Despite that reception and considerable awards conversation leading into the season, both Johnson and Blunt were passed over when Oscar nominations were announced.
The two did receive recognition from the Hollywood Foreign Press. Johnson earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama, and Blunt received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the same category.
Johnson is now re-teaming with director Benny Safdie on a new project called Lizard Music. No further details about that film have been released.
