Dwayne Johnson undergoes five hours of make-up every day on set of Lizard Music

Dwayne Johnson has to undergo five hours of make-up every day to transform into a 70-year-old man for his new movie Lizard Music.

The Moana actor has reunited with his The Smashing Machine director Benny Safdie for a film adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater's children's book Lizard Music.

Johnson is currently two weeks into production and has been spending five hours in the make-up trailer every day to become The Chicken Man, who is in his 70s.

"Imagine Willy Wonka but from the mind of Benny Safdie," he told Deadline about the project at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on Sunday. "I play a septuagenarian man. Now, I didn't know what the hell that meant. So, I had to Google it; it means you're in your 70s. So, we transform, and it's five hours of make-up every day. We're with Kazu Hiro, who is a legend in Hollywood. He was also nominated for The Smashing Machine for our prosthetics, and he is helping me transform."

The Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle star, who has lost weight for the part, noted that the role is "a challenge", but he has been having "an unbelievable experience" so far.

"I love Benny; he's one of my best friends and greatest, most embraced collaborator, so I can't wait for you to see it," he added.

Lizard Music, written and directed by Safdie, is a fantasy adventure that follows a boy who stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music. Newcomer Theo Clark Leber is playing the lead character, while Regina Hall, Alicia Silverstone and Tim Heidecker will also feature.

Johnson, 54, and Safdie previously worked together on the 2025 biographical sports drama The Smashing Machine.

The actor appeared at D23 to be crowned a Disney Legend alongside Anne Hathaway, Lin-Manuel Miranda, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and the Jonas Brothers, among others.