Whenever a celebrity undergoes a sudden body transformation, it’s bound to have people talking. Recently, wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock, shocked the public when he debuted a slimmed-down physique.
The actor appeared at the 2025 Venice Film Festival late last month for the release of his film, “The Smashing Machine”. While the movie itself received a standing ovation, Dwayne also caught media attention with his drastic weight loss. Since the 53-year-old is known for his buff physique, his new appearance sparked debate, with many wondering whether the weight loss was a deliberate choice or if the star has any health issues.
However, during a recent appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival, Dwayne revealed the reason behind his shocking body transformation. According to the former wrestler, he lost weight for a role in director Benny Safdie’s new movie, “Lizard Music”, based on the novel by Daniel Pinkwater. Dwayne is playing the role of Chicken Man, an eccentric 70-something-year-old man whose best friend is a 70-something-year-old chicken.
Surprisingly, the actor revealed that he plans to lose more weight, saying, “This is me in the process of slimming down. I still have a long way to go.” However, Dwayne is excited about his new role because he gets to transform again, like he did with “The Smashing Machine”. In the biopic, the star plays renowned MMA fighter Mark Kerr. For the role, Dwayne spent four hours in the makeup chair each day, putting on more than a dozen prosthetics.
Thankfully, Dwayne’s dedication to playing Mark Kerr may see incredible results. In addition to the 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, critics are now saying that the actor may be on his way to becoming an Oscar nominee. The movie is also a strong contender for multiple nominations, including Best Makeup and Hairstyling for visual artist Kazu Hiro and Best Director for Benny Safdie, who won the coveted Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Only time will tell what Dwayne’s transformation as Chicken Man will look like. However, if you’re curious about his role as Mark Kerr, the good news is that the movie will premiere in October 2025. Check out the official trailer below:
Sources: Entertainment Weekly, People, Variety
