Dwayne Johnson Loses Weight for 70-Year-Old Role in Lizard Music

Dwayne Johnson has undergone a significant weight loss transformation for his upcoming film role as a whimsical 70-year-old man nicknamed Chicken Man, whose best friend is a 70-year-old chicken, in the movie Lizard Music. This new project reunites Johnson with director Benny Safdie, following their collaboration on The Smashing Machine, where Johnson portrayed MMA fighter Mark Kerr and gained critical acclaim. Johnson revealed at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival that he has shed about 30 pounds of muscle since playing Kerr and is continuing to lose weight to prepare for the Chicken Man role. The Smashing Machine received a 15-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival premiere and has sparked Oscar buzz for Johnson's dramatic performance. Johnson expressed excitement about breaking away from his usual action-hero image with these roles and embracing more challenging, character-driven parts. Despite the dramatic change, Johnson remains enthusiastic about his career evolution and the opportunity to transform physically and artistically once again.