Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie’s Lizard Music Sets Christmas 2027 Release
Key Takeaway: Amazon MGM Studios has set a Christmas Day 2027 theatrical release for Lizard Music, the live-action/CGI hybrid starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Benny Safdie. The film adapts Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 novel and reunites Johnson with Safdie after The Smashing Machine.
Deadline broke the news on 19 October 2026: Christmas Day 2027 is the theatrical date for Lizard Music, Amazon MGM Studios’ live-action/CGI hybrid starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Benny Safdie.
The date was corroborated the same day by The Hollywood Reporter and World of Reel, which called it a family-friendly holiday movie; Deadline framed the Christmas launchpad as ideal for reaching family audiences.
The story
A young boy discovers a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music and meets the eccentric Chicken Man and his beloved chicken companion Claudia, setting off an adventure to explore a hidden society, all three outlets report.
Safdie directs from his own script, adapted from Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 novel Lizard Music, which had been in Hollywood development on and off for almost two decades, World of Reel reports.
The cast
Johnson plays the Chicken Man, a quirky septuagenarian, via extensive makeup and prosthetics, Deadline reports. He sat for five hours of makeup daily to play a man in his 70s, according to World of Reel.
The ensemble includes Theo Clark Leber as the boy, Alicia Silverstone, Tim Heidecker, Arya Parvathi, Regina Hall, Colman Domingo, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams, Andrew Dice Clay and David Krumholtz, all three outlets report.
There is a genuine conflict over Claudia’s reported age: The Hollywood Reporter and World of Reel describe the chicken as 111 years old, while Deadline calls her “an 85-year-old chicken named Claudia”. Neither figure is settled; both are reported here as their outlets stated them.
The reunion
The film reunites Johnson and Safdie after The Smashing Machine (A24), and is Safdie’s first solo directorial effort after Good Time and Uncut Gems, which he made with his brother Josh Safdie, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
Behind the camera, the producing team pairs United Artists’ Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt with Safdie for Out for the Count Productions, Johnson for Seven Bucks Productions and David Koplan for Magnetic Fields Entertainment, the outlets report.
Imagine Willy Wonka but from the mind of Benny Safdie.
Dwayne Johnson, to World of Reel
A crowded Christmas
Christmas Day 2027 brings heavy competition: Ron Howard’s Alone at Dawn, starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway, and Nancy Meyers’ Paris Paramount for Warner Bros. open the same day, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline report.
The film arrives a week after the 17 December releases of Avengers: Secret Wars, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum and The Housemaid’s Secret, Deadline reports. Principal photography began in August, according to World of Reel.
Key Story Metrics
| Figure | Reported Status |
|---|---|
| Release | 25 December 2027, in theatres (Deadline, THR, World of Reel) |
| Studio | Amazon MGM Studios (all three) |
| Director | Benny Safdie, from his own script (all three) |
| Lead | Dwayne Johnson as the Chicken Man (all three) |
| Source novel | Daniel Pinkwater’s Lizard Music (1976) (all three) |
| Daily makeup | Five hours (World of Reel) |
| Christmas rivals | Alone at Dawn; Paris Paramount (THR, Deadline) |
✓ Verified
Amazon MGM Studios has dated Lizard Music for theatrical release on 25 December 2027 (Deadline, THR, World of Reel). It is a live-action/CGI hybrid starring Dwayne Johnson as the Chicken Man, directed by Benny Safdie from his own script adapted from Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 novel (all three). The ensemble includes Theo Clark Leber, Alicia Silverstone, Tim Heidecker, Arya Parvathi, Regina Hall, Colman Domingo, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams, Andrew Dice Clay and David Krumholtz; producers are Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt (United Artists), Safdie (Out for the Count), Johnson (Seven Bucks) and David Koplan (Magnetic Fields) (all three). The film reunites Johnson and Safdie after The Smashing Machine (all three).
⚠ Still needs confirmation
Single-source details: five hours of daily makeup and the novel’s two-decade development history come from World of Reel alone; the Paris Paramount ensemble details and Safdie’s solo-directorial framing come from The Hollywood Reporter alone; the 17 December rival releases come from Deadline alone. Claudia the chicken’s age is disputed between outlets (111 per THR and World of Reel; 85 per Deadline) and is reported here exactly as each outlet stated it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Lizard Music come out?
25 December 2027, in theatres. (Deadline, THR, World of Reel)
What is it about?
A boy discovers a late-night broadcast of music-playing lizards and meets the Chicken Man and his chicken Claudia. (all three)
Who directed it?
Benny Safdie, adapting Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 novel; it reunites him with Dwayne Johnson after The Smashing Machine. (all three)
- The Hollywood Reporter: Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie’s ‘Lizard Music’ Sets Holiday 2027 Release From Amazon MGM
- Deadline: ‘Lizard Music’ Starring Dwayne Johnson And Directed By Benny Safdie To Tune Up Christmas Day 2027 Via Amazon MGM
- World of Reel: Benny Safdie’s ‘Lizard Music’ With Dwayne Johnson Sets Christmas 2027 Release
Editor’s note: Claudia the chicken’s age differs between outlets (111 vs 85); each figure is attributed in the text. Single-source details are attributed in-text.
