Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has left fans doing a double take after undergoing a dramatic transformation for his upcoming film Lizard Music.
Keep reading to learn more.
54-year-old Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was spotted filming in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday, wearing a tan bucket hat and coat while sharing pizza with his young co-star.
But it wasn’t just the costume that caught people’s attention. Johnson looked noticeably slimmer than the muscular action star audiences are used to seeing, prompting some fans to wonder whether he was okay.
“Wait is that really The Rock? if so the wardrobe and costume team need a raise cause damn” one person wrote.
The actor’s new look is for a role as an eccentric man in his 70s
Dwayne Johnson’s transformation comes just a day after he unveiled a poster for Jumanji: Open World, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters this Christmas.
The poster showed him in his familiar action-hero image which provides a sharp contrast to the older, more understated character he is playing in Lizard Music.
The fantasy adventure is based on Daniel Pinkwater’s children’s novel of the same name. Johnson plays Chicken Man, an eccentric elderly man who befriends a young boy named Victor, portrayed by Theo Clark Leber.
Speaking to Deadline at D23 in August 2026, Johnson said the role required five hours of makeup every day to make him look like a man in his 70s.
“This is that thing that I ran towards and chased the challenge, and this was a challenge for me,” he said.
The Brooklyn set photos offered fans a first glimpse of just how different he would look on screen.
Fans said they barely recognized the former wrestler
The images quickly spread online, with viewers reacting to Johnson’s aged appearance and slimmer frame.
“Imagine walking past The Rock on the street and not even realising it’s him. That transformation is genuinely impressive,” one person wrote.
Some fans welcomed the transformation, saying they were interested to see Johnson take on a character who was not simply another version of his usual action-star persona.
“Looks like hes finally putting his ego aside to do some actual acting, good for him” one person commented.
Johnson previously said he lost weight for the same role
This isn’t the first time Johnson’s slimmer appearance has sparked questions.
In September 2025, fans raised similar concerns after seeing him at the Venice International Film Festival. He later explained that he had lost nearly 30 pounds in preparation for playing Chicken Man.
At the Toronto Film Festival, Johnson said he was excited to undergo another transformation after his work on The Smashing Machine.
The weight loss, he explained, was part of getting ready for the role and not something he attributed to an illness.
Johnson is reuniting with director Benny Safdie for Lizard Music. Their previous collaboration,The Smashing Machine, followed the life of MMA fighter Mark Kerr.
Johnson said Safdie needed only about 45 minutes to persuade him to take on the new project.
The film also features a star-studded cast
Alongside Johnson and young actor Theo Clark Leber, Lizard Music features Alicia Silverstone, Regina Hall, and Andrew Dice Clay.
Colman Domingo, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams, and David Krumholtz are also set to lend their voices to the film.
The project does not yet have a confirmed release date.
Share this with others who like to keep themselves up to date with the latest news coming out from Hollywood.
