6 Minutes
A whimsical, unexpected adaptation lands at United Artists
Dwayne Johnson and director-writer Benny Safdie have partnered on a project that sounds delightfully strange: Lizard Music, a cinematic adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater’s cult children’s novel. United Artists at Amazon MGM Studios won the film in a heated bidding situation, assembling a production team led by Scott Stuber and a slate of producers that includes Nick Nesbitt, Safdie’s Out for the Count, Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions, and Magnetic Fields Entertainment’s David Koplan.
At its heart, Lizard Music promises a blend of innocent wonder and eccentric charm. The story follows a boy who discovers a late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music. His curiosity leads him to the town’s most peculiar resident: a septuagenarian known only as Chicken Man, played by Johnson, and Chicken Man’s 111-year-old chicken companion, Claudia. What begins as a search for a secret society turns into an odyssey through unseen worlds, unexpected harmonies and the deep companionship between two lost souls.
Plot and tone: strange, tender, and adventurous
Daniel Pinkwater’s books have long occupied a quirky corner of children’s literature—equal parts surreal humor and gentle melancholy—and Safdie says he first read Lizard Music to his two sons. That familial spark seems to have guided his approach: this is a film intended for viewers of all ages, one where imagination takes center stage without losing emotional depth.
The premise—an elderly man and his centenarian chicken—reads like a modern fable. The tone could sit alongside other literary adaptations that trust viewers to lean into strangeness, such as Where the Wild Things Are or the more whimsical sequences in Wes Anderson’s work. But under Safdie’s direction, who is better known for gritty realism in earlier projects, the film may steer into unexpectedly soulful territory.
Why this pairing is interesting
On paper, Johnson and Safdie feel like an unlikely duo. Johnson’s career has spanned action blockbusters, family comedies and charismatic studio fare, while Benny Safdie (often collaborating with brother Josh) has built a reputation for tense, kinetic dramas. Their previous collaboration—cited by Amazon MGM as inspiration—has clearly created a creative shorthand. Johnson’s willingness to physically transform for roles (recently gaining and shedding weight for projects) suggests he’s ready to inhabit the Chicken Man with both humor and gravitas.
Film critic Anna Kovacs notes: "This project could be a turning point for both artists. Safdie’s eye for texture and Johnson’s affable presence might produce a rare family film that doesn’t talk down to its audience. If handled well, Lizard Music could be quietly subversive and deeply moving." Her comment points to the real stake here: balancing whimsy with emotional honesty.
Industry context and production notes
United Artists’ acquisition signals Amazon MGM’s appetite for prestige-styled, mid-budget films that can play both theatrically and on streaming platforms. Lizard Music fits a trend of studios courting literary adaptations with distinct voices—material that stands out in a crowded marketplace by virtue of personality rather than spectacle.
Behind the scenes, Safdie’s personal connection to the source—reading it to his kids—suggests a fidelity to the novel’s heart rather than a broad commercial reboot. Johnson, meanwhile, has described the Chicken Man’s look as "Think Clint Eastwood at 75—sinewy, lean," indicating a departure from his usual superhero-esque presence. The publicity cycle has already highlighted Johnson’s physical transitions between projects, which has become part of the narrative around his craft and commitment.
Comparisons, risks and rewards
Fans of adaptations that embrace oddness will likely be excited: Lizard Music could join a lineage of films that celebrate the strange and tender—think The City of Lost Children or Joel and Ethan Coen’s more whimsical passages. Yet there’s risk: mismatched tone could make a family-aimed fantasy feel uneven, especially when pairing a director known for intensity with a star known for mass-appeal muscle.
Still, the creative team assembled—producers Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt, plus Johnson and Safdie—gives the project both studio muscle and an indie sensibility. That mix could allow the film to be cinematic and intimate at once.
Trivia and early buzz: Safdie’s comment that he and Johnson wanted to "transform" for the role has already stirred fan curiosity. The idea of a centenarian chicken named Claudia will undoubtedly generate memorable imagery and fan art long before the film’s release.
Lizard Music is an intriguing bet: a story about finding hidden music in the world, told by a filmmaker who wants everyone to join the conversation, and led by a star willing to reinvent his screen persona. If the team nails the balance between whimsy and warmth, this could become a quietly beloved entry in both Johnson’s career and the modern wave of literary adaptations.
A short note: expect more casting news and a production timeline as Amazon MGM and United Artists ready the film for development and eventual release—this is one to watch for cinephiles eager for an imaginative, cross-generational adventure.
Source: variety
Comments
Tomas
Is Safdie gonna pull off kidlit without it tipping into weird darkness? Johnson's all in physically, but tonal clash worries me a bit, if that’s real then...
atomwave
Wow this sounds delightfully weird!! Dwayne as a 70s Chicken Man? I'm in. Safdie doing whimsy not just grit, curious how the tone holds up, hope Claudia the chicken gets top billing lol
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