With The Smashing Machine drawing closer and closer, a big topic of discussion has been how slim Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has looked on the festival circuit. There’s no question that the leading man is carrying himself a bit differently on this tour for The Smashing Machine. But, it turns out there’s a very surprising reason that he’s trying to slim down.
Straight from The People’s Champion himself, he’s losing weight because he’s about to play a character named the Chicken Man. Yes, it’s almost as bizarre as it sounds! (And even more surprising, it has nothing to do with Hei Hei?)
Benny Safdie is the director of The Smashing Machine, and his next movie is going to star The Rock too! He’s going to be playing Chicken Man in the upcoming Lizard Music. The story of this movie coming together is nothing short of bizarre and Johnson’s involvement just adds a little bit more chaos to the festivities. Still, if the actor was charmed enough by this pitch, who are we to judge?
Lizard Music is a novel written by Daniel Pinkwater. When a lonely boy discovers a secret late night broadcast of lizards playing strange grooves, the door to another world unlocks. Through the looking glass, he finds the “Chicken Man,” and his 70-year-old avian friend Claudia. The odd pair try and find a secret society, but end up forging a bond through their whimsical adventures.
If you thought the strangest role The Rock would ever play was The Tooth Fairy, think again! It’s a wild world out there in the cinemas right now. Who knows, this movie could totally emotionally destroy us?
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is ready to be “Chicken Man”
As you might be aware, The Smashing Machine sees The Rock stepping into the role of MMA legend Mark Kerr. The actor is supremely physically imposing in the new Safdie movie alongside Emily Blunt. He was already a big man, but the trailer for The Smashing Machine really draws how big he is into sharp focus.
But, as soon as they got done filming the awards season contender, Safdie had a very different request from his leading man. During a talk at TIFF Johnson told the assembled press that the children’s movie project was the first thing on his director’s mind after they wrapped. “Benny pitched me this after,” The Rock told the crowd. “And after about 45 minutes, this pitch ended and I said, ‘I am your Chicken Man.’”
It’s all charming, in that way Johnson can still be after all this time. The charisma that made him can’t miss inside of the squared circle is one of the most powerful muscles he’s got. There’s no doubt that this current run with The Smashing Machine is going to restore a little bit of The Rock’s cache as a big-name in Hollywood. But, we’ll all be waiting to see what the Chicken Man is up to in the meantime.
Has anyone approached Hei Hei for comment? I think we should! After all, we’ll see him as the premiere chicken next to The Rock in next year’s live-action Moana.
(featured image: A24/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
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