The Rock’s New Unrecognisable Movie Character Design Is His Biggest Actor Test

Published Oct 25, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT

Zoë Miskelly is an editor and second in command for Screen Rant's Movies team, having covered the entertainment industry for almost 10 years now. Zoë's love of superheroes and all things Marvel & DC started out in childhood, and has blossomed into a career getting to talk about some of the biggest and best movies and shows of all time, having previously focused on comics while working at WhatCulture.

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Dwayne The Rock Johnson's newest upcoming movie puts the actor in a different role to his usual film archetypes, and gives him a very different costume to boot, opening up some interesting possibilities for his on-screen future. While The Rock began his time in the spotlight as a wrestler, he's increasingly transitioned to the world of film and TV, with plenty of major roles to cement his status in these other media realms.

Between playing Maui in both the animated and then live-action Moana, taking on a major role in the Fast & Furious series, and his roles in everything from Rampage to Zootopia 2, Dwayne Johnson has increasingly become a household name in the movie world, particularly when it comes to flicks that combine action with a good dose of comedy.

With that said, the actor has also proven he has the capacity to translate his skillset into other genres too, most notably and recently with his performance in The Smashing Machine, which saw Johnson deliver real emotion to the film adaptation of the life of combat sportsperson Mark Kerr, earning him much praise for the role. As such, it's interesting to note one of Dwayne Johnson's next roles offers him the chance to branch out further in some more regards too.

Dwayne Johnson's Lizard Music Costume Has Already Gotten Online Reactions Because Of How Different It Makes Him Look

Unlike the majority of Dwayne Johnson's filmography, which has leaned into the wrestler and actor's WWE history and physique with releases like the Fast & Furious films, Red Notice, and The Smashing Machine, 2027's Lizard Music appears set to go a very different route with The Rock's role.

The 2027 movie adaptation of Lizard Music has cast The Rock in the role of Chicken Man, an eccentric individual who gains this title thanks to his constant sidekick, Claudia the Chicken.

The set photos for Lizard Music (as per Variety) have shown Dwayne Johnson embracing this role with a costume that is very different to the ones audiences may be more used to seeing him in on-screen, as The Rock's Chicken Man costume features an aged look to the actor's face that disguises his usual appearance, and a large shirt and overcoat that disguise his strength and muscles, making him look for all the world like a tall old man who has a far leaner build.

Dwayne Johnson's Time As Chicken Man Can Test His Acting Prowess In A Different Kind Of Way

Dwayne Johnson taking on a much different kind of character visually in Lizard Music opens up the doorway for the actor to play a role that is in many ways a complete contrast to the kind of performances we've conventionally seen him in on-screen, both in the wrestling ring and outside of it, by placing the focus less on things like fight choreography.

As such, this gives audiences and actor alike the experience of seeing what The Rock's range is like in a very different area of the world of film, and gives Dwayne Johnson an opportunity to demonstrate his talents in a less action-based, more personality-driven role, while simultaneously honing his skills in this kind of territory too, which could spell a range of even more interesting roles further down the line.