Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson on Live-Action Moana, Bodysuit Reveals, and Filming Challenges

Dwayne ‘The Rock‘ Johnson has addressed recent leaks from the set of the live-action adaptation of Disney‘s ‘Moana,’ where he reprises his role as the demigod Maui. Leaked photos showed Johnson in a bodysuit, sparking speculation that he had bulked up for the role. However, in an interview with Extra TV, Johnson confirmed that he is indeed wearing a bodysuit for the character.

Johnson expressed his satisfaction with the confusion, stating, “That’s a suit that took a long time to put on. So, I’m so happy you said, ‘You bulked up,’ because when you say, ‘You bulked up,’ that means you couldn’t tell.”

The filming process has been challenging, with the crew attempting to avoid paparazzi by setting up walls around the shooting area. Despite these efforts, photographers managed to capture images from boats, revealing the first look at Johnson as live-action Maui. Johnson described the experience of becoming Maui on set as “eye-opening” and likened it to getting into his grandfather’s skin, highlighting the real and tangible nature of the live adaptation.

The live-action ‘Moana’ is set to release on July 10, 2026, and will feature Australian actress Catherine Laga'aia as Moana. Meanwhile, the animated sequel ‘Moana 2’ has recently hit theaters and is breaking box office records, with a record-shattering $13.8 million in Tuesday previews.