Full Breakdown
Benny Safdie’s “Lizard Music” Adds Alicia Silverstone and Tim Heidecker
7/24/2026, 2:19:01 PM
Film Overview and Casting Announcement
The upcoming live-action/CGI hybrid adaptation Lizard Music—based on Daniel Pinkwater’s novel—has announced two new cast members. Alicia Silverstone and Tim Heidecker join the project, which already confirmed 10-year-old Theo Clark Leber as the lead opposite Dwayne Johnson, who also serves as a producer. The story follows the boy who discovers a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music, leading him to an eccentric “Chicken Man” (Johnson) and his 111-year-old chicken companion, Claudia. Their quest evolves from a hunt for a hidden society into a journey through invisible worlds and unexpected harmonies.
Production Background
Benny Safdie adapted the screenplay for Lizard Music, turning Pinkwater’s whimsical narrative into a visual hybrid. The film is being produced by a slate that includes United Artists’ Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt, Safdie’s Out for the Count Productions, Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions, and Magnetic Fields Entertainment’s David Koplan. No specific release schedule has been disclosed.
Key Cast and Crew Profiles
- Alicia Silverstone – Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, recently seen in Yorgos Lanthimos’ *Bugonia*, the Netflix film *A Merry Little Ex-Mas* (which she also executive-produced), and the erotic thriller *Pretty Thing* with Karl Glusman. She is represented by UTA, Untitled, and Gang Tyre Ramer.
- Tim Heidecker – Comedy figure who, alongside The Onion, relaunched Alex Jones’ *Infowars* as a parody site; stars opposite Gregg Turkington in the web series *On Cinema* and appears in the horror film *Him* with Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers. He is also represented by UTA.
- Dwayne Johnson – Actor-producer portraying the whimsical “Chicken Man” and providing production leadership through Seven Bucks Productions.
Production Details and Outlook
The project remains in pre-production, with casting announcements made earlier this week. While the narrative premise emphasizes a blend of magical realism and adventure, the film’s visual style and release timeline have yet to be detailed by the producers.
