Benny Safdie Casts 10-Year-Old Theo Leber Opposite Dwayne Johnson in Lizard Music Adaptation

Director Benny Safdie has selected 10-year-old Theo Leber from the Chicago area for his feature film lead in Lizard Music, a live-action and CGI adaptation pairing the young actor with Dwayne Johnson. The casting concluded months of auditions and marks Leber's first feature film role. Production is scheduled to begin in August, with the film targeting a 2027 release date.

The Story and Cast

Lizard Music adapts Daniel Pinkwater's 1976 novel for Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists. The narrative follows Leber's character, a young boy who discovers a secret late-night broadcast of lizards performing otherworldly music. His investigation into this phenomenon leads him to an eccentric older man nicknamed The Chicken Man, portrayed by Johnson. Johnson's character maintains a 111-year-old companion chicken named Claudia, and the three form an unlikely partnership that evolves from a search for a hidden society into a broader voyage through invisible worlds and unexpected harmonies.

Leber, a fourth-grader from Evanston, Illinois, recently appeared in a production of Leopoldstadt staged by Writers Theatre in Glencoe. Beyond acting, he pursues lacrosse, football, and interests in art and history. He is represented by agents at Arise Artist Agency, Talent X Alexander, and attorney Jeff Hynick at Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Production and Direction

Safdie wrote and directs Lizard Music as his follow-up to The Smashing Machine, an A24 sports drama also featuring Johnson that earned Safdie a Golden Globe nomination for Johnson's portrayal of former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr. The producers include Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt from United Artists, Safdie from Out for the Count Productions, Johnson from Seven Bucks Productions, and David Koplan from Magnetic Fields Entertainment.

Johnson has confirmed physical preparation for the role, stating that dietary changes have altered his appearance. He noted feeling lighter and more mobile without carrying additional weight, describing the transformation as positive for his on-screen presence in the film.