Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is no stranger to physical transformations, but his latest shift has fans buzzing. The 53-year-old actor, known for his massive build in films like Fast & Furious and Jumanji, appeared noticeably leaner at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. He was there to promote The Smashing Machine, a gritty drama in which he portrayed real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr—a role that required him to bulk up with an extra 30 pounds of muscle.
Now, he’s headed in the opposite direction. Johnson is preparing for his next project, Lizard Music, where he plays a character far removed from his usual action-hero image: a whimsical 70-something-year-old known as Chicken Man. To get into character, the actor is shedding weight and leaning into a very different type of transformation.
“I still have a long ways to go,” Johnson admitted during a career retrospective talk at the Venice festival, as reported by Variety.
Despite the challenges, he sounded excited about the process. “I’m so excited to get a chance to hopefully transform again like I was able to do in Smashing Machine. [It means] eating less chicken,” he joked, hinting that his famously high-protein diet has been scaled back.
Directed by Benny Safdie, who also helmed The Smashing Machine, Lizard Music is based on Daniel Pinkwater’s beloved novel. The story combines surreal whimsy with heartfelt themes, centering on a boy who stumbles upon a late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music. This discovery leads him to Chicken Man and his elderly chicken companion, Claudia. Together, they embark on a journey that goes beyond fantasy.
Here’s the official synopsis via Deadline: “When a boy left to his own devices stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music, a hidden door to the extraordinary swings open. His search for answers leads him to the eccentric and whimsical Chicken Man and his beloved companion, a 70-year-old chicken named Claudia — two kindred spirits who have also glimpsed the impossible. United by this shared vision, they set off on an adventure that begins as a hunt for a hidden society but blossoms into something far greater: a voyage through invisible worlds, unexpected harmonies, and the unbreakable bond between lost souls who discover magic not only in what they find, but in each other.”
Fans may have been shocked to see the actor leaner on the red carpet, but Johnson has always embraced the demands of his roles with full commitment. From packing on mass for Kerr to now slimming down for Chicken Man, he continues to prove that transformation is part of his artistry.
