The Rock Breaks Silence On Reason For Physical Transformation
September 9, 2025
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Andrew Ravens is a Newsweek reporter. He is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His focus is reporting on wrestling news. He has in-depth knowledge of pro wrestling and has covered the industry extensively. Andrew joined Newsweek in 2025 from WrestlingNews.co and had previously worked at GiveMe Sport. You can get in touch with Andrew by emailing a.ravens@newsweek.com. You can find him on X @andrew_ravens.
Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently turned heads at the Venice Film Festival with a noticeably slimmed-down physique, and now he has revealed the reason for his transformation. Speaking at the Toronto Film Festival on Monday, Johnson confirmed that his new look is for his next film role, in which he will play a “whimsical, eccentric 70-something year-old” character.
The new film will see him re-team with Benny Safdie, the acclaimed director of his other upcoming film, “The Smashing Machine,” which has been earning rave reviews on the festival circuit. The commitment to these film projects explains his current absence from WWE programming and casts doubt on a potential in-ring return.
Johnson explained that after Safdie pitched him the role for 45 minutes, he immediately told the director, “I am your Chicken Man.” The new movie is called “Lizard Music,” an adaptation of a Daniel Pinkwater novel that, according to a report from “Variety,” tells the story of a septuagenarian whose best friend is a 70-year-old chicken.
To prepare for the role, Johnson had to undergo a physical change. He revealed that he has lost “much of the 30 pounds of muscle” that he had gained to portray MMA fighter Mark Kerr in “The Smashing Machine.”
Dwayne Johnson attends “The Smashing Machine” red carpet during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Dwayne Johnson attends “The Smashing Machine” red carpet during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025 in Venice, Italy. Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImage
A History of Returns
Despite his success in Hollywood, The Rock has never completely turned his back on the wrestling industry. He has made several in-ring comebacks over the years and is currently a member of the TKO Board of Directors. His most recent on-screen appearance was at the “Elimination Chamber” premium live event in February, where he was involved in a storyline with John Cena and Cody Rhodes.
The teases of matches with Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes had fans excited for another in-ring run. However, it now appears that The Rock’s focus is firmly on his burgeoning career as a serious dramatic actor.
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