Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the professional wrestler turned Hollywood superstar, has long been defined by his colossal, muscular physique.
However, the actor has recently unveiled a visibly leaner frame. But why, and how did he slim down?
Why did Dwayne Johnson lose so much weight?
The Rock is actively shedding muscle to take on a series of more complex and unconventional roles, marking a significant new chapter in his acting career.
Johnson’s weight loss is a direct result of his acting ambitions with a strong desire to take on more diverse roles.
He has been open about his intention to move beyond the “pigeonholed” action-hero archetype and his desire to demonstrate his range as an actor.
This new direction is reflected in his new movie, The Smashing Machine, where he plays the real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr.
The film looks to be a success, recieving a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. There are also murmurings of a potential oscar nomination for the The Rock.
His next role In Lizard Music will reunite him with director Benny Safdie and will push his physicality even further.
Johnson will play a "whimsical and eccentric 70-something-year-old man" known as the “Chicken Man,” whose best friend is a 70-year-old chicken. It’s safe to say he’s come along way since first appearing on the WWE stage.
How did he do it?
Johnson's approach involves a significant change to his diet. As he humorously refers to it, it means “eating less chicken.”
In addition to dietary changes, his training regime has likely shifted away from heavy lifting and intense bodybuilding.
While the weight loss is for a specific purpose, Johnson has made it clear that it is not permanent. He told reporters that he will return to his action movie roles, with his return to the set of Jumanji 3 scheduled for November.
