Dwayne Johnson, known as The Rock, revealed at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), that he’s slimming down to play a 70-year-old character in Benny Safdie’s film Lizard Music. During a Q&A session, the former WWE star and actor explained he’ll portray the eccentric Chicken Man, whose best friend is a 70-year-old chicken. This role follows his dramatic performance as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Safdie’s The Smashing Machine.
Johnson Prepares for a Unique Role
Johnson shared details, saying:
“The announcement just broke, so it’s out there now. Big news. I’m teaming up with Benny Safdie again and we’re going to make a film called ‘Lizard Music,’ which is based off a novel written by Daniel Pinkwater. A little bit of the backstory is Benny pitched me the movie after ‘The Smashing Machine,’ and after about 45 minutes, I said, ‘I am your chicken guy.’ What that means is, without giving too much away, the role that I will play is a very whimsical and eccentric 70-something year-old man called ‘The Chicken Man,’ and his best friend is a 70-something year-old chicken. I’m so excited to hopefully get a chance to transform again like I was able to do in ‘The Smashing Machine.’”
He added, “That’s why I’ve been slimming down, to play ‘The Chicken Man.’ I’ve been eating less chicken. This is me slimmed down. In the process of slimming down. I still have a long ways to go.” via MMAjunkie
Johnson began acting in 2001 with The Mummy Returns and rose to fame with The Scorpion King (2002). His role as Luke Hobbs in Fast Five (2011) made him an action star, followed by hits like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). In 2025, he earned praise for playing Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, premiered at TIFF. He co-founded Seven Bucks Productions in 2012, producing films like Black Adam (2022) and Red One (2024).
Lizard Music, based on Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 novel, follows Victor, a young boy who, while left alone during his sister’s camping trip, discovers a late-night TV show featuring lizard musicians playing strange instruments. Fascinated, he investigates the mysterious broadcast, leading him to encounter odd characters like the Chicken Man, a quirky 70-year-old with a chicken companion, played by Dwayne Johnson in Benny Safdie’s film adaptation. Victor’s journey takes him to a hidden island where he uncovers an alien lizard society, blending humor, surreal adventure, and coming-of-age themes as he navigates this bizarre world.
