Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is undergoing another dramatic physical transformation for his upcoming film, this time shedding weight to portray an elderly character in the adaptation “Lizard Music.”
The 53-year-old actor recently explained his leaner appearance during a career retrospective at the Toronto International Film Festival. He revealed he’s preparing to play a unique role that marks another departure from his typical action-hero persona.
From Muscle to Character Actor
Johnson’s latest transformation involves losing the substantial muscle mass he gained for his previous role as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in “The Smashing Machine.” The actor confirmed he’s actively working to slim down for his next collaboration with director Benny Safdie.
“This is me slimmed down. In the process of slimming down. I still have a long way to go,” Johnson shared during the TIFF event, per People. “I’m so excited to get a chance to hopefully transform again like I was able to do in Smashing Machine.”
The new project, based on Daniel Pinkwater’s novel, will see Johnson portraying “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,” he explained to the audience, according to the outlet.
When asked about his preparation method, Johnson humorously noted that achieving this transformation means “eating less chicken.”
The storyline follows a young boy who discovers a late-night television broadcast featuring lizards performing music. Through a hidden door, he meets the Chicken Man character. This leads to an adventure on an invisible island populated by intelligent lizard musicians.
Johnson described his enthusiasm for the project after hearing Safdie’s pitch. “Benny pitched me this after [Smashing Machine]. And after about 45 minutes, this pitch ended and I said, ‘I am your Chicken Man,'” he recalled.
Breaking Away from Hollywood Expectations
This role is part of Johnson’s continued effort to expand his acting range beyond the action and comedy films that established his Hollywood career. “The Smashing Machine” received an emotional reception at the Venice Film Festival, earning a 15-minute standing ovation. Following this success, Johnson has expressed his desire to pursue more challenging dramatic work.
“I just had this burning desire and this voice that was saying, ‘Well, again, what if?'” Johnson explained during a Venice press conference, according to ScreenCrush. “But what if there is more and what if I can? And a lot of times it’s harder for us to, or at least for me, to know what you’re capable of when you’ve been pigeonholed into something.”
The actor acknowledged feeling constrained by Hollywood’s tendency to categorize performers based on box office success. “When you’re in Hollywood, as we all know, it had become about box office and you chase the box office,” he said. “And the box office in our business that we know is very loud and it can be very resounding, and it could push you into a category and into a corner.”
Johnson’s recent career choices reflect a personal desire to explore new creative avenues rather than proving himself to the industry. “I don’t think it’s anything to prove to Hollywood as much as it’s just for me now,” he shared.
He described reaching a pivotal moment in his career when he questioned whether he was pursuing his own dreams or fulfilling others’ expectations. “I looked around a few years ago, and I started to think, ‘Am I living my dream or am I living other people’s dreams?'” he reflected, according to People.
Fans have already noticed Johnson’s physical transformation, with many commenting on his leaner appearance at recent public events. His debut of the slimmed-down look at the Venice Film Festival generated significant social media discussion. Supporters praised his dedication to character work.
For “The Smashing Machine,” Johnson underwent an extensive daily transformation process. He spent three to four hours in makeup while wearing 13 to 14 prosthetics to embody Mark Kerr. This experience appears to have reinforced his commitment to physical transformation for dramatic roles.
“Lizard Music” will mark Johnson’s second collaboration with Benny Safdie. It follows their successful partnership on “The Smashing Machine,” which earned Safdie the directing award at the Venice Film Festival.
I am happy to see this side of Dwayne Johnson. More roles like this please!