Dwayne JohnsonIt’s only been a few weeks since their first collaboration was released in theaters, but that hasn’t stopped director Benny Safdie and actor Dwayne Johnson from gearing up for their next project together. The duo behind The Smashing Machine has found a home for their next film, titled Lizard Music. Johnson had briefly discussed the film while promoting The Smashing Machine for A24, and now there is more official news about the production: it has found a new home at Amazon, MGM Studios’ United Artists, which also recently acquired Michael Mann’s upcoming sequel to Heat.
Variety reports that Lizard Music was the subject of a “competitive situation” because the hot project was highly sought after, though United Artists ultimately landed the upcoming movie. The picture is set to be written and directed by Safdie, and will be based on the novel of the same name written by Daniel Pinkwater. Film Producer Scott Stuber is also attached to the project as part of the agreement with UA, with his most recent producing credits including Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and the upcoming biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White.
The official statement from Courtenay Valenti who is the head of film, streaming, and theatrical for Amazon MGM, reads as follows:
“We are so thrilled to partner once again with extraordinarily talented Dwayne Johnson, as well as work for the first time with the amazing creator, writer and director Benny Safdie, on ‘Lizard Music.’ Everyone at Amazon MGM and UA is deeply inspired by their previous collaboration on the critically acclaimed ‘The Smashing Machine.’ We are so excited to now collaborate with them on this imaginative, entertaining and cinematic story; ‘Lizard Music’ is a tale that feels both timeless and unique. We are very fortunate that they have trusted us to be their studio partners.”
‘Lizard Music’ Will Feature Another Dramatic Transformation for Dwayne Johnson
One of the earlier plot synopses for Lizard Music states that the movie is about a boy who “opens a hidden door to the extraordinary and stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music. His search for answers leads him to the eccentric and whimsical septuagenarian Chicken Man, and his beloved companion, a 111-year-old chicken named Claudia — two kindred spirits who found each other at just the right time. United by this shared vision, they set off on an adventure that begins as a hunt for a hidden society but blossoms into something far greater: a voyage through invisible worlds, unexpected harmonies, and the unbreakable bond between lost souls who discover magic not only in what they find, but in each other.”
Benny Safdie also released a statement about the upcoming movie, saying, “to go on this adventure with Dwayne and to be able to watch him transform and become the Chicken man is just beyond… I can’t wait!” Much like his intense physical transformation for The Smashing Machine, it seems Johnson will transform again, as he was noticeably thinner while promoting the A24 movie. As it turns out, the weight loss and thinner look is for the upcoming Lizard Music, with the actor and action star revealing that he was going for a “lean” look while still maintaining his muscle. Hopefully, this next collaboration between Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson will be just as remarkable as their first film together.
- Release Date
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October 3, 2025
- Runtime
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123 minutes
- Director
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Benny Safdie