Benny Safdie Breaks Away: Solo Directorial Debut with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, First Image Revealed

Hollywood has witnessed the best of the Safdie brothers, as their collaborations gave hits like “Good Time” (2017) and “Uncut Gems” (2019). However, the filmmaker duo has now decided to part ways and will be working on individual projects. Benny Safdie will make his solo directorial debut with “Smashing Machine,” featuring on-screen power couple Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson. Meanwhile, his brother Josh Safdie is all set with his forthcoming Adam Sandler-led movie about the baseball trading card industry.

Why did the Safdie brothers split up?

Both Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie are known for their collaborative work in the film industry. While they are prominently known for their writing and directorial ventures, they have also served in a variety of key positions, including acting, editing, shooting, mixing sound, and producing their films. After years of working together and producing outstanding work, the brothers have decided to move forward individually.

Amidst the talks about their split, Benny Safdie clarified that his split with Josh is amicable. In an article with Variety, Safdie insisted, “It’s a natural progression of what we each want to explore. I will direct on my own, and I will explore things that I want to explore. I want that freedom right now in my life.”

Last year was pivotal for Benny Safdie. Though he worked with Josh as executive producer on an Andy Kaufman documentary and the HBO docuseries “Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God and Telemarketers,” he also proved himself as an actor and broke away from the hard-won directing partnership that was “the Safdie brothers.”

Now, as Benny has decided to move further, his solo directorial film debut will be with Dwayne Johnson. Benny’s upcoming movie, “Smashing Machine,” captures the story of legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who was afflicted with addiction and a rocky marriage with Dawn Staples.

First look at Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE starring @TheRock and Emily Blunt. pic.twitter.com/GVC2XIHwGV

— A24 (@A24) May 21, 2024

The film will mark Johnson’s reunion with his “Jungle Cruise” co-star Emily Blunt, who will play his wife. Smashing Machine” will begin production with A24, and the first image from the film has also recently been released.

Talking about the film, Johnson told Variety, “Benny wants to create and continues to push the envelope when it comes to stories that are raw and real, characters that are authentic and at times uncomfortable and arresting. I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past. I’m at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter, that explore humanity and explore struggle [and] pain.”

Benny’s directorial debut film, “Smashing Machine,” is likely to be released next year, in 2025.

 Will there be any more films by the Safdie brothers?

In 2019, the Safdie brothers released a film, “Uncut Gems,” starring Adam Sandler. The film was inspired by their father’s time working in the Manhattan Diamond District. Made under the production banner of A24, it received critical acclaim and became one of A24’s highest-grossing releases. The film was expected to have a follow-up. But since the film was a result of the Safdie brothers’ collaborative work and now that they have parted ways, the fate of the follow-up is uncertain as of now.

Benny was originally set to direct the movie with Josh. However, in the same interview with Variety, he disclosed that he did not co-write the script and hasn’t been a meaningful part of the creative process. Now, he has declared that the movie is on pause. When asked whether he’d direct with Josh again, he shrugged and said, “I don’t know.”

While the Safdie brothers remain committed to their individual paths, there’s always hope for a reunion in the future. For now, we wish them success in their solo endeavors and look forward to their upcoming projects.