Raye to Voice Character and Make Music for Benny Safdie Film Based on 1976 Novel Lizard Music

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Raye has officially boarded the creative and cast roster for Benny Safdie’s highly anticipated upcoming cinematic venture, Lizard Music. Blending live-action cinematography with cutting-edge computer-generated imagery (CGI), the film adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater’s whimsical 1976 children’s novel is already shaping up to be one of the most distinctive and star-studded projects on Hollywood’s horizon.

As part of her multifaceted involvement with the production, Raye will not only lend her distinct vocal talents to a character within the film but will also compose and perform original music specifically tailored for the narrative world crafted by Safdie. This ambitious project continues Raye’s burgeoning cinematic journey, positioning the multi-platinum artist firmly at the intersection of high-concept filmmaking and chart-topping musical expression.

An All-Star Ensemble and Creative Heavyweights

The production boasts an expansive, A-list ensemble cast that matches the whimsical, larger-than-life tone of Pinkwater’s original text. Alongside Raye, the film features superstar Dwayne Johnson—who is also serving as a producer on the project—alongside Theo Leber, Alicia Silverstone, Tim Heidecker, Arya Parvathi, Regina Hall, Colman Domingo, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams, David Krumholtz, and Andrew Dice Clay.

Behind the camera, the film represents a massive collaborative effort between elite production houses. Lizard Music is being brought to life by producers Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt of UA, alongside Benny Safdie through his Out for the Count Productions banner. Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions and David Koplan’s Magnetic Fields Entertainment round out the heavyweight production team, signaling a major financial and creative commitment to the film’s theatrical rollout, which is currently scheduled for December 25, 2027.

The Plot: From Cult Classic Novel to Modern Cinematic Spectacle

Based on the beloved and enduring 1976 novel by Daniel Pinkwater—a prolific and revered figure in children’s and young adult literature—the film adaptation has been meticulously scripted by Benny Safdie. Known for his frenetic, character-driven storytelling in gritty dramas like Uncut Gems and Good Time, Safdie is pivoting into a wildly imaginative, surrealist space with Lizard Music.

The narrative follows the madcap, surreal adventures of a resourceful young boy named Leber. While exploring the airwaves late at night, Leber stumbles upon an impossible, clandestine television broadcast featuring a society of reptiles playing unearthly, mesmerizing music. Driven by curiosity and a sense of wonder, Leber embarks on a cosmic quest for answers, eventually joining forces with an eccentric, marginalized old man known only as the Chicken Man. Their unlikely partnership is further enriched by the Chicken Man’s steadfast confidante and companion: an articulate, highly sophisticated octogenarian chicken named Claudia. Together, this bizarre trio noses around the universe, uncovering secrets that bridge the mundane world with a hidden reptile civilization.

Raye’s Expanding Cinematic Footprint

Raye’s integration into Lizard Music marks another major milestone in a banner year for the British artist. In May, following the widespread critical and commercial acclaim of her sophomore studio album, This Music May Contain Hope, it was announced that Raye had secured her first scripted dramatic feature role in Yann Demange’s London-set crime film, Lineage. Prior to these substantial theatrical bookings, Raye’s acting experience had been largely limited to a self-appearance cameo in an episode of the Netflix thriller series Black Rabbit.

The crossover between her musical prowess and cinematic ventures underscores her rising stock in the global entertainment industry. Her massive, ubiquitous hit single "Where Is My Husband!" from This Music May Contain Hope has dominated critical conversations and is widely considered a leading frontrunner for Song of the Year at the upcoming Grammy Awards. By tasking Raye with creating original music for Lizard Music, the production leverages her unique ability to infuse emotional depth, genre-blending artistry, and theatricality into her compositions.

Chronology of Production and Release Strategy

The development of Lizard Music has been moving at a steady pace since Safdie first optioned the property to translate Pinkwater’s cult-favorite text into a modern visual medium. The integration of CGI with live-action elements requires an extended post-production window, explaining the strategic holiday release date set for December 25, 2027.

By targeting the Christmas box office window, the studios are positioning the film as a major four-quadrant event release, capable of capturing family audiences through its fantastical premise while drawing in cinephiles and fans of Safdie’s distinct directorial style. Furthermore, the staggered casting rollouts—culminating in the recent additions of high-profile actors and musical contributors like Raye—have sustained a steady wave of industry buzz and public anticipation.

Industry Implications and Cultural Resonance

The pairing of Benny Safdie’s avant-garde sensibilities with Daniel Pinkwater’s delightfully absurd children’s literature highlights a growing Hollywood trend of elevated, director-driven family entertainment. Studios are increasingly willing to hand surreal, imaginative properties to auteurs who can balance mainstream accessibility with stylistic risks.

Moreover, the cross-pollination of pop music royalty into film composition and voice acting—exemplified by Raye’s dual role on Lizard Music—demonstrates a broader strategy to bridge demographic gaps. By anchoring the film with a massive ensemble of recognizable comedic and dramatic heavyweights like Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams, and Dwayne Johnson, alongside a fresh musical voice deeply embedded in contemporary culture, the production is primed to resonate across multiple generations of moviegoers when it hits theaters in late 2027.