Dwayne Johnson explains Maui look that Moana fans keep roasting

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Okay, so everyone online is totally giving Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson a hard time about how he looks as Maui in the live-action Moana movie. Apparently, getting that physique was brutal for him – it sounds like he really suffered to get into that shape!

Moana has been incredibly profitable for Disney. The first film earned almost $700 million globally, and the sequel surpassed $1 billion. Beyond the movies themselves, Moana merchandise has also been a huge success.

It’s therefore unsurprising that the studio is making a live-action version of the story, with Dwayne Johnson returning to play the demigod Maui.

Okay, the first trailer is finally here, and honestly, all anyone can talk about is… whatever is on top of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s head! It’s completely taken over the conversation, and I’m dying to know what it is!

Moana fans call live-action Maui “cosplay gone wrong”

Who wore it better

— Rhea (@4eyedRaven) March 23, 2026

Fans reacted strongly to Dwayne Johnson’s look as Maui in the live-action film, particularly his wig. One commenter joked that it looked like the wig was simply tossed onto his head, while another said the portrayal didn’t resemble the real Maui, but rather a failed costume attempt.

Someone else quipped that the ocean might have intended a majestic, god-like appearance, but Disney opted for a cheap, Hawaiian wig from Party City instead.

Some viewers are surprised to see Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson with long hair, with one person saying it feels strange because he’s usually known for being bald.

Many feel a live-action version of Moana isn’t necessary, with some arguing the original animated film is superior and shouldn’t be remade.

Thomas Kail, the director of the live-action Moana, explained to Entertainment Weekly that a lot of consideration went into designing Maui’s hair. Since much of the film takes place on the water, they had to think about how the hair would look when wet. He revealed the hairpiece actually gained seven pounds from absorbing water during the long filming days.

Dwayne Johnson reveals “gruelling” challenge of prosthetics and wig

Dwayne Johnson revealed it took about two and a half hours to get into his Maui costume, including the muscles and wig. He described wearing it as incredibly difficult, telling Entertainment Weekly that the suit was hot and exhausting. He explained that between scenes, a team of five or six people had to use fans and physically open the suit to cool him down and manage his hair.

Johnson explained the decision to use a physical prosthetic suit instead of visual effects. Initially, they considered creating the effect digitally, but they realized a real suit would feel more impactful. It allows for more natural movement and a stronger emotional connection. Ultimately, they decided to take on the challenge and tasked makeup designer Joel Harlow with creating the suit, and he delivered impressively.

Honestly, getting into the role wasn’t just about the acting. The suit and hair were a real hurdle. I didn’t expect the prosthetics and hair to add so much weight – like, another 40 pounds! It took some getting used to, figuring out how to move and perform with all that extra stuff on me.

Performing, whether it’s acting or singing, feels liberating. It was challenging to express emotions while wearing the heavy, 40-pound costume, wig, and body suit I had on.

Moana will be released on July 10, 2026. For a complete list of upcoming movies, check out our 2026 film release guide.

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2026-03-24 15:19