Topics: Dwayne Johnson, Film and TV, Celebrity
Dwayne Johnson has revealed the real reason behind his new look after some fans expressed their concerns.
The Rock is one of the most recognised celebrities on the planet: between WWE fame, acting roles, chat show appearances, and general social media fame, Johnson has millions of fans across the globe.
And the actor has certainly become known over the years for his impressive physique, but Johnson's appearance at the Venice Film Festival last month shocked many of his fans as he showcased a new slimmed-down look.
While some fans defended the Fast & Furious star, others expressed their concerns.
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The 53-year-old appeared alongside his The Smashing Machine co-star Emily Blunt at a Miu Miu Women’s Tales event, where it is evident the amount of muscle Johnson has lost.
Many presumed The Rock's new look was in aid of his leading role as real-life UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the A24 film The Smashing Machine. The film features Dwayne Johnson starring alongside Blunt, who will play Dawn Staples, and Bas Rutten, a famous Dutch MMA fighter, playing himself.
Reports suggest Johnson has lost around 60lbs by dropping to 240lbs from his usual 300lbs.
And The Rock has revealed he needs to slim down even further in the coming weeks and months for his latest flick, Lizard Music, with Johnson playing a man called Chicken Man.
Speaking at a career retrospective talk at the Toronto Film Festival on Monday (September 8), Johnson said: "A little bit of backstory for you guys here is Benny pitched me this after we wrapped The Smashing Machine, and after about 45 minutes, his pitch ended, and I said, ‘I am your Chicken Man'.
"Now what that means is, without giving too much away, the role that I will play is a very whimsical and eccentric 70-something-year-old man called the Chicken Man, and his best friend is a 70-something-year-old chicken."
The Hollywood actor added: "I still have a long ways to go. I’m so excited to get a chance to hopefully transform again like I was able to do in Smashing Machine. [It means] eating less chicken."
It's The Smashing Machine that arrives first, however, with Johnson expressing his excitement for the role during a press conference for that new movie last week.
"When you’re in Hollywood — as we all know, it had become about box office," he said. "And you chase the box office, and the box office can be very loud and it can become very resounding and it can push you into a category and into a corner.
"This is your lane and this is what you do and this is what Hollywood wants you to do."
