Forget the muscles, the bald head, and the blockbuster action-hero swagger. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has traded his signature look for gray hair, a scraggly beard, and grandpa-style fashion while filming Benny Safdie’s upcoming movie Lizard Music in New York City. And yes, you might need to look twice.
Spotted on the Brooklyn set alongside young co-star Theo Clark Leber, Johnson appeared almost unrecognizable in a tan trench coat, floppy bucket hat, colorful tie, and loose-fitting trousers. The transformation is a long way from the polished Hollywood powerhouse audiences are used to seeing—and that’s precisely the point.
Meet The Chicken Man
Johnson is playing an eccentric older character known as The Chicken Man, a whimsical figure from Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 children’s novel Lizard Music. The story follows a young boy who discovers a mysterious late-night television broadcast featuring lizards playing otherworldly music.
His search for answers leads him to The Chicken Man and his beloved chicken companion, Claudia. Together, the unlikely pair embark on an adventure involving hidden worlds, strange discoveries, and a friendship that proves magic can turn up in the most unexpected places.
Because apparently, even The Rock’s next big-screen adventure requires a chicken.
Another Major Transformation for Dwayne Johnson
The new look marks another dramatic physical change for Johnson, who previously worked with Safdie on The Smashing Machine, transforming himself to portray former MMA fighter Mark Kerr.
For Lizard Music, the actor has embraced extensive aging makeup, prosthetics, and a noticeably different silhouette to bring the character to life. The result is a version of Johnson that looks worlds away from his familiar action-franchise persona.
Safdie, meanwhile, is taking on a decidedly unusual fantasy project following his work on the gritty sports drama.
When Does ‘Lizard Music’ Come Out?
The film, backed by Amazon MGM Studios, is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 25, 2027.
With Johnson’s unexpected transformation and a story involving musical lizards, an eccentric old man, and an extraordinary chicken, Lizard Music is already shaping up to be one of the more intriguing entries on Hollywood’s upcoming release calendar.
The Rock has officially entered his Chicken Man era—and New York is getting a front-row seat.
