Lizard Music: Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie reunite for their next film, now acquired by Amazon MGM

Lizard Music is the forthcoming film that will mark a second collaboration between Dwayne Johnson and director Benny Safdie.

The duo previously teamed up for the biographical sports drama film The Smashing Machine, where Johnson portrayed former MMA fighter Mark Kerr.

It had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Lion award. The film was released by A24 on October 3, 2025, and has received critical acclaim.

The duo's forthcoming film has now been acquired by Amazon MGM Studios.

Keep reading to find out more details about this upcoming project.

Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie's Lizard Music acquired by Amazon MGM

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Lizard Music is the upcoming film that will mark the second collaboration between Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson. The film has been acquired by Scott Stuber and United Artists (owned by Amazon MGM Studios). It is an adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater's namesake 1976 novel, with Safdie writing the screenplay.

Courtenay Valenti, who is the head of films at Amazon MGM Studios, talked about this acquisition and said:

“We are so thrilled to partner once again with extraordinarily talented Dwayne Johnson, as well as work for the first time with the amazing creator, writer and director Benny Safdie, on Lizard Music. Everyone at Amazon MGM and UA is deeply inspired by their previous collaboration on the critically acclaimed The Smashing Machine. We are so excited to now collaborate with them on this imaginative, entertaining and cinematic story; Lizard Music is a tale that feels both timeless and unique. We are very fortunate that they have trusted us to be their studio partners.”

Safdie also issued a statement in which he revealed that he had read the book to his two children and was captivated by the imagination. He stated that Johnson will be playing the role of Chicken Man in the adaptation.

“I couldn’t be more excited to go on this journey with Amazon MGM studios and United Artists. 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."

Safdie won the top honor for directors at the Venice International Film Festival for his recent directorial effort, The Smashing Machine. The film was based on the life of former MMA fighter Mark Kerr and marked his first solo directorial film, as the brother duo (including Josh) had decided to pursue their separate filmmaking journey.

Lizard Music is being produced by Benny Safdie, Dwayne Johnson, Scott Stuber, Nick Nesbitt, and David Koplan under their production banners Seven Bucks Productions, Out for the Count Productions, and Magnetic Fields Entertainment. It will focus on a young boy who finds out about an underground music broadcast run by lizards.

Are you excited about Safdie's next film?