Dwayne Johnson Officially Undergoes Shocking Transformation for New Movie
A striking new character
Johnson plays the Chicken Man in Lizard Music, Safdie’s next film after The Smashing Machine, their last collaboration. The new movie is a fantasy family film, and first on-set images show Johnson in character as a much older street performer.
Johnson appears to have gained about 20 years in age and lost 30 pounds of muscle for the role. His bucket hat conceals Claudia, the character’s elderly chicken and best friend.
The makeup process
Veteran makeup artist Kazu Hiro created Johnson’s transformation. The actor underwent a five-hour makeup process each day. Hiro also transformed Tom Cruise into an elderly oil tycoon for Digger. Audiences can see Johnson’s finished look when Amazon MGM Studios releases Lizard Music in theaters on Christmas Day, 2027.
Cast and production team
The cast includes Regina Hall, Tim Heidecker, Alicia Silverstone, Andrew Dice Clay, Arya Parvathi and Theo Clark Leber. Colman Domingo, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams and David Krumholtz provide voices; the story notes that they may play the film’s lizards, most of whom are named Reynold.
Safdie directs and co-wrote the script with Ronald Bronstein. The two previously worked together on Good Time and Uncut Gems.
Key points
- Johnson plays the Chicken Man, an elderly street performer with a chicken named Claudia.
- Kazu Hiro created the look through a daily five-hour makeup process.
- Amazon MGM Studios plans a theatrical release on Christmas Day, 2027.
- Benny Safdie co-wrote the film with Ronald Bronstein.