NEW YORK CITY, October 21, 2026 — Dwayne Johnson has stepped onto a Brooklyn movie set looking completely unrecognisable as a 70-year-old man for his latest film role. The 54-year-old actor was photographed filming scenes in Coney Island on October 20, trading his usual action-hero physique for an elderly appearance in the fantasy adaptation Lizard Music.
Transforming Into The Chicken Man
According to reports from BroBible, the physical changes required for the production are extensive. Dwayne Johnson lost 30 pounds of muscle for the part, appearing noticeably slimmer than his usual build. The transformation into the eccentric character requires five hours of makeup daily, utilizing 22 prosthetics along with gray hair, wrinkles, age spots, and a bushy beard, as reported by AOL.
On the set in Brooklyn, the actor wore a tan trench coat, a patterned tie, loose-fitting trousers, a bucket hat, and sneakers while filming outdoor scenes. He was spotted carrying a slice of cheese pizza opposite young co-star Theo Clark Leber, who carried a large green lizard plushy, according to AOL. The film is directed by Benny Safdie, marking a reunion for the pair after their work together on The Smashing Machine.
A Star-Studded Cast and Source Material
Lizard Music is a live-action and CGI adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 children’s novel. The story follows a young boy who discovers a mysterious world where lizards perform music, eventually meeting The Chicken Man and his beloved chicken, who is 85 years old in the film version and 111 years old in the original book, according to AOL and BroBible.
The ensemble cast features a large group of well-known actors. According to AOL and BroBible, the film stars Theo Clark Leber, Rachel McAdams, Colman Domingo, Regina Hall, Jeff Goldblum, Alicia Silverstone, David Krumholtz, Tim Heidecker, and Andrew Dice Clay. Several members of the cast are slated to contribute voice performances for the CGI lizard characters.
From The Smashing Machine to Lizard Music
The role continues a streak of demanding physical transformations for Johnson. For last year’s biographical film The Smashing Machine, in which he played mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr, the actor put on more than 30 pounds of muscle, donned a wig, and wore 22 prosthetics, describing the project as the hardest thing he had ever done, according to AOL.
Johnson committed to Lizard Music quickly after a pitch from Benny Safdie at the Toronto International Film Festival. After listening for 45 minutes, Johnson recalled telling the director that he was his Chicken Man. Audiences will have to wait until the holiday season to see the final result, as Lizard Music is scheduled for a theatrical release on Christmas Day 2027.
Collaboration with Voice Artists and CGI Lizards
According to AOL and BroBible, several members of the cast are slated to contribute voice performances for the CGI lizard characters in Lizard Music. This includes notable actors such as Rachel McAdams, Colman Domingo, Jeff Goldblum, Alicia Silverstone, David Krumholtz, Tim Heidecker, and Andrew Dice Clay. These voice artists will bring the fantastical world of lizard musicians to life, adding depth and personality to the creatures that inhabit the film’s mysterious world.
Benny Safdie, who previously worked with Dwayne Johnson on The Smashing Machine, has a history of collaborating with a wide range of talent. In addition to his work on films such as Heaven Knows What, Good Time, and Uncut Gems, Safdie has also branched out into acting, appearing in projects such as Licorice Pizza, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, The Curse, Oppenheimer, and Happy Gilmore 2. His experience with both live-action and voice performances will likely contribute to the unique tone of Lizard Music.
Sources
- The Rock Looks Unrecognizable as 70-Year-Old Man in New Movie Set Photos – AOL
- The Rock Looks Insane, Unrecognizable As 70-Year-Old Man As Production On Benny Safdie's 'Lizard Music' Begins
- A-list star looks completely unrecognizable as elderly man on set of new movie ‘Lizard Music’ – AOL
Photo: Harald Krichel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
