Dwayne Johnson Drops Bombshell On Why He Really Lost Weight

Dwayne Johnson is officially in shrink mode. After bulking up to play an MMA legend, he is now trimming down for his next swing with Benny Safdie, and the role he is teasing is gloriously odd. Also on the docket: more Jumanji with Kevin Hart and a Venice win for Safdie. Busy week.

The slim-down, straight from him

At TIFF on September 8, during the festival's In Conversation With... series, Johnson told TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey he is actively dialing it back physically.

"This is me slimmed down. In the process of slimming down. I still have a long ways to go."

From The Smashing Machine to Lizard Music

Johnson packed on size to play former UFC champion Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, Safdie's new drama that premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 1. The movie drew strong reviews there, and Safdie walked away with the directing award. Emily Blunt co-stars. Johnson says he was in the makeup chair for as long as four hours a day for prosthetics to fully disappear into Kerr. The film is based on the early-2000s documentary about Kerr, which does not shy away from his addiction struggles while competing at the top of the sport. The Smashing Machine is slated to hit U.S. theaters in October 2025.

Next up, Johnson is reuniting with Safdie for Lizard Music, adapted from Daniel Pinkwater's novel. Johnson says he is playing, and I promise I am not making this up, a "very whimsical and eccentric 70-something-year-old man called the Chicken Man. And his best friend is a 70-something-year-old chicken." For prep, he joked he is eating "less chicken." The inside baseball here: if you were wondering why someone built like The Rock is slimming down, it is because the next character is supposed to be a wiry, eccentric 70-something. Makes sense.

TIFF chat highlights

Beyond the body talk, Johnson ran through the career arc: pro wrestling as The Rock to the studio tentpole run, from Fast & Furious to Moana to Jumanji. He also confirmed another Jumanji with Kevin Hart is gearing up to shoot soon. Emily Blunt hopped on stage for a surprise cameo during the conversation, with Safdie there as well.

Johnson has been open about recalibrating what he wants to do. As he put it on September 1, right as Venice was kicking off:

"I looked around a few years ago and I started to think ... am I living my dream or am I living other people's dreams? I want to live my dreams now and do what I want and tap into the stuff that I want to tap into."

Quick snapshot

• Sept 1: The Smashing Machine premieres at Venice; Safdie wins the directing award. Johnson reveals the role took up to 4 hours of prosthetics daily.
• Sept 8: At TIFF, Johnson says he is actively slimming down and confirms he will go further for Safdie's Lizard Music, playing the Chicken Man.
• Also coming: another Jumanji with Kevin Hart is set to start filming soon.
• Release date to circle: The Smashing Machine opens in U.S. theaters October 2025.