Dwayne Johnson in tears in Venice for the premiere of The Smashing Machine

The 53 -year -old actor, ovationed for 15 minutes by the public, could not hide his emotion.

Is Dwayne Johnson on the way to the Oscars?

The welcome reserved for Dwayne Johnson at the Venice Festival suggests that the door to an appointment is wide open!

Monday evening, his performance in The Smashing Machine Awarded a 15 -minute ovation, one of the longest in this edition, leaving the 53 -year -old actor in tears. On videos posted online on the networks, we see the star crack and wipe a few tears.

Former Star of the wrestling under the name of The Rock, he became known in blockbusters like Fast & Furious And Black Adam. But with this drama produced by A24, expected in November, he surprised by playing the wrestler of the 1990s Mark Kerr, a fighter haunted by his demons. Johnson, submerged by emotion, said: “I am at a time in my career when I want to push myself in directions where I have never been.”

By her side, Emily Blunt plays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s partner. Director Benny Safdie, who signs his first solo feature film here, joined his two actors on stage, moved to tears, while the real Mark Kerr, present in the room, also collapsed at the end of the projection.

This evening will remain as one of the most intense in the lido from the tears of Brendan Fraser to The Whalefour years ago. The former of The mummy had won the Oscar for best actor a few months later.

The Smashing Machine will be released on October 29 in theaters.