Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has acknowledged the sharp weight loss that surprised fans after his appearance at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, and said he plans to slim down further for an upcoming role.
Johnson, 53, told Variety that the change follows a recent muscle gain of about 30 pounds he undertook to portray mixed martial artist Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. The actor said he expects to transform again for Lizard Music, in which he will play the eccentric "Chicken Man," an elderly character whose best friend is a chicken.
"I still have a long ways to go," Johnson said, adding with a quip about diet, "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 made the remarks while promoting The Smashing Machine, which premiered at Venice to strong critical attention.
The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie, stars Johnson opposite Emily Blunt, who plays the girlfriend of the character he portrays. The film received a roughly 15-minute standing ovation at its Venice premiere, and industry reaction has included early awards-season discussion. Safdie embraced the lead actors and was openly moved during the reception, according to accounts of the festival screening.
Lizard Music is a film adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater's 1976 novel. Deadline's synopsis describes a story in which a boy discovers a secret broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music and encounters the whimsical Chicken Man and his 70-year-old chicken companion, setting off an adventure that explores hidden societies and unlikely friendships.
Johnson began his entertainment career as a WWE performer and later built a box-office profile with large-scale action and family films including the Jumanji franchise, Moana and several Fast & Furious installments. He has said in recent interviews that he has sought more dramatic, transformative parts after years of being cast in franchise and action roles.
"When you’re in Hollywood — as we all know, it can become about box office," Johnson told festival audiences, noting that commercial success can lead to being "pigeonholed". He said his recent choices reflect a desire to challenge himself and to broaden the kinds of parts he is offered.
Johnson's physical shifts for successive projects underline that intent: after intentionally gaining significant muscle for a role as an MMA fighter, he is now preparing to alter his look again for a markedly different character. Production schedules and release dates for Lizard Music have not been detailed by the studio, and Johnson is expected to continue promoting The Smashing Machine on the festival circuit in coming weeks.