Hollywood is buzzing after Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hit the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival looking drastically different from the muscular superstar fans have come to know. The 52-year-old actor, famous for his massive frame and action-hero physique, stunned onlookers with a much slimmer, leaner build — prompting social media to erupt with disbelief and jokes. Many are calling it the most shocking celebrity transformation yet, with searches for Dwayne Johnson weight loss 2025 skyrocketing overnight.

“Is that Al Roker?” one fan tweeted, while another quipped, “The Rock turned into a pebble.” Memes quickly spread across X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, with many commenting that Johnson looked “shrunk” or “deflated.” The internet’s obsession with Dwayne Johnson weight loss 2025 only fueled the frenzy further.

But the transformation isn’t random — it’s intentional. Johnson dropped nearly 60 pounds for his latest role as legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the upcoming biopic The Smashing Machine. The film, backed by A24, follows Kerr’s turbulent rise in the world of mixed martial arts, including his struggles with addiction and personal battles. For fans following Dwayne Johnson weight loss 2025, the actor’s method approach to embodying Kerr explains the jaw-dropping change.

The drastic shift shows Johnson’s commitment to taking on more dramatic roles after decades of being typecast as the muscle-bound action hero. “I didn’t want to just play another version of myself,” Johnson said in an earlier interview. “This role demanded vulnerability and rawness.” At the Venice premiere, The Smashing Machine reportedly received a 15-minute standing ovation, bringing Johnson to tears. With Dwayne Johnson weight loss 2025 making headlines worldwide, many are speculating if this could be his ticket to Oscar glory.

Still, the internet isn’t letting him off easy. The memes keep rolling in, and the comparison to Al Roker has now become its own trending joke. Whether you’re here for the laughs or the awards buzz, one thing is certain: The Rock has never looked like this before.