Dwayne Johnson addresses being overlooked by the Academy Awards for his role in “The Smashing Machine.” In interviews referenced by multiple outlets, Johnson says the snub leaves him disappointed after what he describes as putting his heart into the performance. He discusses his portrayal of UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the Benny Safdie–directed A24 film and describes the Oscars omission as motivation, saying it “lit a fire” in him. The reports indicate Johnson frames the recognition he did not receive as something that drives him to continue pushing his work forward. While the outlets emphasize different wording for his reaction, they consistently report that Johnson is responding publicly to the Oscars snub tied to “The Smashing Machine” and that he characterizes the setback as a source of renewed determination. No additional details about nomination outcomes beyond the snub are provided in the cited summaries.