Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has changed significantly as he prepares for a role as a 70-year-old man in a new film. He was seen filming in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday, and pictures from the set quickly gained attention online. Many fans found it hard to recognize him due to his new appearance, and some expressed worries about his health because he appeared much slimmer than his usual strong self. One user on X mentioned that they did not recognize him at all.
On October 19, Johnson released a poster for his upcoming movie, Jumanji: Open World, which is set to be released in theaters this Christmas. The poster features Johnson in a familiar action-hero role, a character that has contributed to his success in Hollywood.
Just a day later, the 54-year-old actor surprised fans with a completely different look for his role in Lizard Music. This film, inspired by Daniel Pinkwater’s children’s book, has Johnson playing an eccentric older man named Chicken Man, who befriends a young boy named Victor, portrayed by Theo Clark Leber.
At the D23 event in August 2026, Johnson shared that achieving this transformation involves five hours of daily makeup to look like a man in his 70s. He described this challenge as something he eagerly embraced.
Photos from the set show Johnson wearing a tan bucket hat and coat while eating pizza with his younger co-star. These images quickly circulated, causing fans to express surprise and concern about his weight loss. Many struggled to recognize Johnson because of his new look. Some users compared his appearance to that of actor John Malkovich.
Fans noted that throughout his career, Johnson often portrayed larger-than-life characters, and they were excited to see him take on a role that deviates from his usual persona, especially after a recent decrease in box-office success. Some fans expressed hope that this new film would showcase his acting skills rather than just his typical on-screen persona.
However, some users were focused on his slimmer figure and questioned if he was healthy. One user remarked that he hadn’t looked that small since high school, while another asked if he was sick.
Johnson had previously faced similar concerns in September 2025 when he first showed a more slender figure at the Venice International Film Festival, prompting speculation about his health. He later confirmed that he had lost nearly 30 pounds for this role, which was part of his preparation to play Chicken Man and not due to any health issues. He expressed excitement about the opportunity to transform again for this role, referencing his previous work in Smashing Machine.
Lizard Music will be Johnson’s second project with director Benny Safdie, following their collaboration on The Smashing Machine, which details the life of MMA fighter Mark Kerr.
What do you think about Dwayne Johnson’s transformation for this role?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Gabija Saveiskyte