Dwayne Johnson surprised fans after newly surfaced photographs showed him looking dramatically different while filming his upcoming fantasy movie, Lizard Music, in Brooklyn on October 20, 2026. The actor, famously known as The Rock, appeared with gray hair, a bucket hat, and a coat as he walked alongside co-star Theo Clark Leber, even stopping to enjoy a slice of pizza. The transformation is part of his role as the Chicken Man, a 70-year-old character in director Benny Safdie’s adaptation of the book of the same name. Johnson previously revealed that he was working on slimming down for the role after gaining 30 pounds to portray former mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, which also stars Emily Blunt. He explained that the process was gradual and gave him time to prepare without resorting to extreme measures. The actor has also described these projects as opportunities to step outside his comfort zone and explore new sides of his acting abilities, moving beyond the action-star image audiences have come to expect.
Scheduled for release on Christmas Day 2027, Lizard Music follows a young boy who discovers strange lizard musicians on late-night television and befriends an unusual man who keeps an elderly chicken. The film also features Rachel McAdams, Colman Domingo, David Krumholtz, Jeff Goldblum, Alicia Silverstone, and Regina Hall. Johnson’s dramatically changed appearance has already sparked curiosity about how he will bring the unusual character to life. Rather than relying only on his familiar muscular image, the actor appears determined to immerse himself in a role that calls for a very different look and performance. His recent work on The Smashing Machine demonstrated his willingness to transform himself for a character, and this new project continues that creative direction. Although audiences must wait until late 2027 to see the finished film, the first set photos have offered an intriguing preview of Johnson’s latest transformation—and a reminder that there may be more to the Hollywood star than his blockbuster action roles.
