Well, this is a bit of a shocker, but Dwayne Johnson and director Benny Safdie are already lining up their next project together, “Lizard Music.”
The news hails from Deadline, as the trade outlet has revealed Safide is looking to adapt the Daniel Pinkwater novel and direct with Johnson attached for the role of Chicken Man.
This comes after Safdie just won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for his solo debut directing on the buzzy MMA/UFC drama “The Smashing Machine,” where Johnson plays professional fighter Mark Kerr and co-stars with Emily Blunt. Unclear if Blunt will be along for the ride, too.
A plot synopsis for “Lizard Music” via the outlet:
When a boy left to his own devices stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music, a hidden door to the extraordinary swings open. His search for answers leads him to the eccentric and whimsical Chicken Man and his beloved companion, a 70-year-old chicken named Claudia — two kindred spirits who have also glimpsed the impossible. 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.
Producing will be Safdie for Down for the Count Productions, Johnson for Seven Bucks Productions, and David Koplan, who also produced “The Smashing Machine.”
Johnson recently talked up the idea of taking on more serious acting roles, so he isn’t “pigeon-holed” as a blockbuster star, and doing another character-driven role with Safdie is certainly sticking to that promise.
The package deal is heading to suitors very soon, and we have to assume A24 (distributor of “The Smashing Machine”) will want to get their hands on “Lizard Music,” but there will be stiff competition. Stay tuned, because this will be one to keep an eye on.
General audiences will be able to watch “The Smashing Machine” when it hits theaters on October 3.
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