The first Moana movie hit theaters in 2016 and grossed $688 million at the global box office on its way to setting several streaming records on Disney+. More recently, the animated sequel Moana 2 grossed over $1 billion in 2024.
The film is already going against the grain by setting the record for the fastest turnaround in Disney history between an animated film and its live-action remake.
Now, it has another hurdle to overcome, and the obstacle comes in the work of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's follicle prosthetic.
Speaking on Johnson's divisive look as Maui, director Thomas Kail stated, "We knew that it had to be something that could have real lift to it."
“Because you’re doing this on the water, ‘what does it look like wet?’ is a real conversation when you’re making Moana. That one weighs seven pounds more with all the water in it for all those hours a day.”“Because you’re doing this on the water, ‘what does it look like wet?’ is a real conversation when you’re making Moana. That one weighs seven pounds more with all the water in it for all those hours a day.”
Previously speaking on going from voicing Maui to playing him in live-action, Johnson stated, "Playing Maui has been the gift of a lifetime. Growing up as a Samoan — half Samoan and half black — in Samoan culture, Polynesian culture? We’re proud people. Proud of our culture. And what Moana has represented is a really awesome global embrace of Polynesian culture, our values and our qualities and our pride and our mana," said the Fast and Furious actor back in November.
Online reaction to Johnson's Maui look has not been kind, as several social media posts have gone viral, with one comparing the Rock to someone in a Spirit Halloween Maui costume, while another poster proclaimed it's going to be Will Smith as the Genie all over again. Others have said Johnson looks like he's an SNL special guest playing in a low-budget Moana skit.
This early backlash to the first footage certainly resembles the negative discourse surrounding 2023's The Little Mermaid and 2025's Snow White, films that failed to reach the lofty box office heights achieved by other Disney live-action remakes.
However, the trailer has already racked up nearly 200 million views, perhaps serving as an indicator that Moana as a franchise, can overpower a bad wig and negative social media backlash.
It will definitely be interesting to see if Disney makes any adjustments in the film's marketing as he draws closer to its July 10, 2026 release.
In Disney’s live-action adaptation of the beloved Oscar®-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. The film is directed by Emmy® and Tony Award® winner Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”); produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and executive produced by Thomas Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth and Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated features “Moana” and “Moana 2.” Audiences can experience the brilliant cinematic sights, sounds and songs of “Moana” in U.S. theaters on July 10, 2026.