Dwayne Johnson Opens up About Oscars Snub Fueling His Drive

WHO:

Deadline - Dwayne Johnson, actor, and star of "The Smashing Machine"

Coming Soon - Dwayne Johnson, actor, and star of "The Smashing Machine"

WHAT:

Deadline - Dwayne Johnson was snubbed for an Oscar nomination for his role as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in "The Smashing Machine."

Coming Soon - Dwayne Johnson expressed disappointment over not securing an Oscar nomination at the 98th Academy Awards.

WHY:

Deadline - Dwayne Johnson stated that the Oscars snub "lit a fire in my spine" to motivate him to deliver better performances in the future.

Coming Soon - Dwayne Johnson had hoped that "The Smashing Machine" would succeed both commercially and at the Oscars.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 01:47 UTC)

Dwayne Johnson, the actor and star of "The Smashing Machine," was recently snubbed for an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of UFC fighter Mark Kerr, which has left him feeling disappointed ahead of the 98th Academy Awards. Despite this setback, Johnson stated that the Oscars snub has "lit a fire in my spine," motivating him to strive for even better performances in the future. He had high hopes that "The Smashing Machine" would achieve both commercial success and recognition at the Oscars.