For more than two decades, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been synonymous with hulking physiques and action-heavy blockbusters.
But in his latest career move, the actor has deliberately shed muscle and slimmed down—an artistic transformation driven by his commitment to a surprising new role.
Johnson is starring in Lizard Music, a film adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater’s cult novel, where he plays a 70-something eccentric known as the Chicken Man, a whimsical figure who befriends a chicken named Claudia.
To bring the quirky character to life, Johnson abandoned his trademark action-star body, reshaping himself into a leaner, older-looking version of himself.
“This role demanded I disappear into someone completely different,” Johnson told festival audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“The Chicken Man is not The Rock. He’s wiry, odd, a little fragile. I couldn’t carry that off with my usual build.”
The change was not accidental. Johnson revealed that he undertook a deliberate regimen to shed bulk, tone down his frame, and soften his appearance.
Unlike his fitness routines for roles such as Black Adam or Fast & Furious, where muscle definition was central to the character, Lizard Music required the opposite: a physique that signaled age, eccentricity, and vulnerability.
This is not Johnson’s only venture into more challenging, transformative roles. His performance as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine has already earned him a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, with many hailing it as his most emotionally demanding work to date.
Meanwhile, upcoming projects such as A24’s Breakthrough—where he plays a morally ambiguous motivational guru—and Martin Scorsese’s Hawaiian mob drama further signal a career reinvention.
By losing muscle for Lizard Music, Johnson has positioned himself not only as a blockbuster draw but also as a character actor willing to break type and take risks.
For an actor who built his career on larger-than-life physiques, slimming down is more than just a body change; it’s a statement of intent.
Johnson is showing that his range extends beyond action spectacle into roles that require nuance, vulnerability, and transformation.
Fans have expressed surprise at his new look, with some praising the dedication it takes for an actor so defined by muscle to embrace such a drastic departure.
The transformation could redefine Johnson’s trajectory, moving him into a new era of roles where versatility trumps brawn.