Dwayne Johnson praises 'humbling and inspiring' live-action Moana
Dwayne Johnson has described getting the chance to make a live-action Moana as "humbling and inspiring".
Dwayne Johnson has described the live-action Moana as "humbling and inspiring".
The 53-year-old actor voiced the shape-shifting demigod Maui in the 2016 animated movie and its 2024 sequel, and he has returned to the character for Disney's upcoming film because of what it means to his Polymesian ancestors.
Debuting footage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Thursday (16.04.26), he said: “I lived with this character of Maui for 10-plus years. The animated version was just an amazing experience for us as Polynesian people...
“There’s something special and important [when] you take animation into live-action. We’re able to showcase our Pacific island, real people, and it’s humbling and inspiring all at once.”
Dwayne explained he had sought inspiration for his own grandfather when it came to his character.
Opening his phone to share a picture of his late relative, he said: "The character of Maui was deeply inspired by my grandfather. This is for you, High Chief.”
The film sees newcomer Catherine Laga'aia take on the title role of Moana and Dwayne expressed his pride in working with her.
He said: “All men of all ages, we should champion and support all women.”
The Australian actress is "incredibly excited" to play the wayfinder.
She gushed: "I grew up watching Moana with my family, so to be a part of her experience, I’m incredibly excited.”
The wrestling legend recently spoke of how he "didn't anticipate" the difficulties he'd find in his performance because of heavy prosthetics, a bodysuit and a wig.
He told Entertainent Weekly: "The thing that became a challenge, that I had to work through very quickly, that I didn't anticipate was the prosthetics and the hair and then the body. That is an additional 40 pounds on you.
"There's a freedom when you perform, whether it's as an actor or singing.
"So that was an adjustment on how to actually work my emotions through the 40 pounds of prosthetics and hair and body that I had on me."
And Dwayne noted that it wasn't possible for him to "lose the weight" because typically it goes from the neck, and it would've looked silly with the bodysuit.
He explained: "I couldn't have a big bodysuit and then a small little skinny neck. Forty, 50 pounds is a lot to put on.
"Then it's a lot to maintain for months... It was gruelling because of the suit and how hot it was.
"Wait till you see pictures. In between takes, there's literally five, six people, all [with] fans, opening me up, pulling my hair back."
There was a moment where the production team thought about recreating Maui's iconic look with "visual effects, body and everything", but instead they put make-up designer Joel Harlow to work.
Dwayne added: "There's also a tactile, emotional resonance when it's a real bodysuit. It moves and breathes with you.
"So we thought the best iteration of this was, let's go for it, let's challenge Joel, and he rose to the occasion."
