The intersection of avant-garde cinema, children’s literature, and contemporary pop music is expanding as Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Raye officially boards filmmaker Benny Safdie’s upcoming feature film adaptation, Lizard Music. The project, which is being developed as a hybrid of live-action filmmaking and computer-generated imagery (CGI), continues to build momentum with one of the most eclectic and high-profile ensemble casts assembled in recent years. In addition to contributing original musical compositions and lending her voice to a character within the film, Raye joins a roster of talent that includes Dwayne Johnson, Alicia Silverstone, Regina Hall, Colman Domingo, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams, Theo Leber, Arya Parvathi, Tim Heidecker, David Krumholtz, and Andrew Dice Clay.
The ambitious cinematic endeavor is slated for a theatrical release on December 25, 2027, positioning it as a major holiday family release with distinct artistic sensibilities. Safdie, celebrated for his intense, gritty independent dramas like Uncut Gems and Good Time—which he co-directed with his brother Josh Safdie—is pivoting toward a wildly imaginative, surreal universe originally conceived by prolific author Daniel Pinkwater.
Background and Origins of Lizard Music
Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 cult classic novel Lizard Music has long held a revered place in the canon of eccentric American children’s and young adult literature. Known for his absurdist humor, anti-authoritarian themes, and embrace of societal outcasts, Pinkwater’s work provided fertile ground for Safdie’s cinematic adaptation. Safdie personally adapted the screenplay, translating the hallucinatory and whimsical tone of the original book into a modern cinematic framework.
The narrative of Lizard Music follows the surreal and madcap adventures of a young boy named Leber. While home alone and tuning into late-night television broadcasts, Leber stumbles upon an inexplicable and mesmerizing late-night television show featuring lizards performing sophisticated, unearthly music. Driven by curiosity and a sense of isolation, Leber embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the mysterious broadcast. Along the way, he crosses paths with an eccentric, self-taught philosopher known as the Chicken Man and the man’s closest confidante: an octogenarian chicken named Claudia. Together, this bizarre trio traverses an eccentric universe searching for answers, bridging the gap between mundane reality and bizarre, reptile-dominated dimensions.
The cinematic adaptation seeks to capture this distinct flavor of magical realism. By utilizing a hybrid format that blends live-action performances with cutting-edge CGI, the production aims to bring the otherworldly musicianship and eccentric environments of Pinkwater’s universe to life for a new generation of filmgoers.
An Unprecedented Assembly of Producers and Cast
The production infrastructure behind Lizard Music is equally formidable, bringing together major Hollywood heavyweights and prominent independent production banners. The film is being steered by a coalition of producers, including Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt representing United Artists (UA); Benny Safdie under his Out for the Count Productions banner; Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia through Seven Bucks Productions; and David Koplan via Magnetic Fields Entertainment.
The involvement of Seven Bucks Productions and United Artists signals a major studio backing for a property that, on paper, leans heavily into unconventional territory. The casting roster reflects this grand scale, drawing top-tier comedic and dramatic talent from across the entertainment spectrum. Dwayne Johnson is attached not only as a producer but also as a starring presence, lending his global box-office gravity to the project. He is joined by industry veterans such as Jeff Goldblum, whose affinity for quirky, high-concept cinema makes him an ideal fit for the project’s tone, alongside acclaimed performers Rachel McAdams, Colman Domingo, Regina Hall, Alicia Silverstone, and Tim Heidecker.
Raye’s Expanding Cinematic Footprint
For Raye, whose legal name is Rachel Keen, Lizard Music marks another significant milestone in an unprecedented career trajectory. The British artist made music history at the 2024 Brit Awards by winning a record-breaking six awards in a single night, including Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year. Following the massive success of her independent debut album, My 21st Century Blues, she continued her critical dominance with her sophomore studio album, This Music May Contain Hope, released earlier this year to widespread acclaim.
Raye’s creative footprint within the music industry has translated seamlessly into cinematic opportunities. In May, it was announced that she had secured her first scripted dramatic role in Lineage, a gritty London-based crime feature directed by Yann Demange. That casting followed a minor cameo appearance playing herself in an episode of the Netflix series Black Rabbit.
Her inclusion in Lizard Music, however, represents a deeper fusion of her twin talents: acting and composition. Writing original music for a feature film of this scale places Raye in the company of elite contemporary musicians who cross over into cinematic scoring and songwriting. Furthermore, her smash hit single "Where Is My Husband!" from her latest album is widely considered by industry analysts to be a leading contender for Song of the Year at the upcoming Grammy Awards, cementing her status as a generational musical force.
Chronology of Development and Production Timeline
The development of Lizard Music has progressed steadily behind closed doors as Safdie transitions into large-scale hybrid filmmaking.
- 1976: Daniel Pinkwater publishes the original novel Lizard Music, establishing a cult following among readers of unconventional youth fiction.
- Pre-2026: Benny Safdie secures the adaptation rights, developing the screenplay to translate Pinkwater’s surreal narrative into a feature-length script combining live-action and CGI elements.
- May 2026: Raye expands her artistic repertoire into acting by securing a dramatic role in Yann Demange’s crime feature Lineage, following the release of her acclaimed second album, This Music May Contain Hope.
- Fall 2026: Casting announcements solidify the ensemble, with Dwayne Johnson, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams, Colman Domingo, and others boarding the project alongside production banners United Artists, Seven Bucks Productions, and Out for the Count Productions. Raye officially signs on to voice a character and compose original music for the film.
- December 25, 2027: United Artists has scheduled the theatrical release of Lizard Music, positioning the high-concept family film as a major holiday box-office event.
Industry Implications and Box Office Potential
The pairing of Benny Safdie’s distinct cinematic vision with a family-friendly, high-concept premise represents a fascinating shift in contemporary Hollywood production strategies. While Safdie has built his reputation on nerve-wracking, claustrophobic urban dramas, his venture into adaptation demonstrates a desire to experiment with grander, more fantastical canvases.
The financial and creative stakes for Lizard Music are high. By merging the star power of Dwayne Johnson, the prestige of actors like Jeff Goldblum and Rachel McAdams, and the musical drawing power of Raye, the production is engineered to appeal to a broad demographic spanning multiple generations. Parents who grew up reading Pinkwater’s novels in the late 1970s and 1980s will form a built-in nostalgic audience, while younger viewers will be drawn by the CGI spectacle, the voice cast, and Raye’s chart-dominating musical contributions.
As production continues ahead of its late 2027 release, Lizard Music stands as one of the most anticipated hybrid cinematic projects of the decade, promising a rare blend of literary quirkiness, pop-culture star power, and innovative musical storytelling.
