Amazon to produce Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie’s next movie

Posted On October 17, 2025October 17, 2025

Amazon have already snapped up the rights to the next collaboration between Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson.

Despite the poor box office results of their latest collaboration, The Smashing Machine, the pair have been backed for another joint project. Curiously, this will be an adaptation of the 1976 kids’ book, Lizard Music.

The story follows the plot of a boy who is left to have his own vacation at home after his parents go away for two weeks; after the late, late show one night, something strange happens. The crazy sci-fi story includes an older gentleman known as the Chicken Man, due to the chicken he carries on his head, which Johnson may reportedly play.

Safdie has officially shared his elation at the upcoming project, stating, “Lizard Music is a book I read to my two sons and we were riveted by its imagination and wonder. I love Daniel Pinkwater as a person and an author; the idea of making a movie where everyone can join the conversation is both thrilling and beautiful. To go on this adventure with Dwayne and to be able to watch him transform and become the Chicken Man is just beyond… I can’t wait!”

This role will differ hugely from The Smashing Machine, in which Johnson played former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who struggled with addiction.

Johnson has not shied away from addressing the poor box office results of The Smashing Machine. On October 5th, he wrote online: “From deep in my grateful bones, thank you to everyone who has watched The Smashing Machine. In our storytelling world, you can’t control box office results – but what I realised you can control is your performance, and your commitment to completely disappear and go elsewhere. And I will always run to that opportunity.”

He added: “It was my honour to transform in this role for my director Benny Safdie. Thank you brother for believing in me. Truth is this film has changed my life.”

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