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The latest trailer for the live-action adaptation of “Moana” has debuted, and it’s offering a closer look at Dwayne Johnson as Maui. This release has reignited a recurring question: Why remake an animated film from 2016 into a live-action version by 2026? Fans are particularly critical of Johnson’s portrayal, primarily due to his appearance. Despite providing the voice for Maui in the original, his live-action transformation isn’t resonating well.
For nearly two decades, Johnson has sported a bald look. Seeing him now with a voluminous wig is jarring for many viewers. On X, one user, @LionMeezyN, commented, “Original Moana is untouchable. This trailer looks like CGI cosplay with Dwayne’s Maui wig fighting for its life.” Another user, @EG_Robert1, added, “HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. That is NOT Maui. That is The Rock in a wig!”
The wig has evoked comparisons to infamous hairpieces in pop culture, such as Tim Robinson’s sketch on “I Think You Should Leave” where his character ends up with dog ear-like hair. Another comparison is John Cena’s blonde wig in “Barbie.” Despite the original “Moana” being hailed as a Disney animated classic, this live-action iteration has thus far only sparked humor and skepticism.
Even with the criticisms surrounding Johnson’s wig, the live-action “Moana” is expected to be a financial success. The animated sequel, “Moana 2,” released in 2024, grossed over $1 billion, though it received mixed reviews with critics like Looper noting it fell short of its predecessor’s magic. This remake may face similar challenges if it sticks too closely to the original without innovation, as animation often outshines live-action in storytelling.
“Moana” tells the compelling story of a young girl’s journey to save her people, featuring mythical elements like a demigod, a musical crab, and a living volcano. These fantastical elements are more naturally suited to animation. In the live-action trailer, Maui’s grand size and presence are diminished, leaving Johnson as just The Rock, as muscular as ever. This has led some, like @DWLundberg, to remark, “I just can’t get over the idea that they just slapped a wig on The Rock for live-action #Moana and called it good … I can’t stop laughing at that.”
The wig has drawn some unfavorable comparisons to other notable hairpieces in pop culture, like what Tim Robinson wore in a sketch for “I Think You Should Leave” where he accidentally tells a barber to make his hair look like dog ears. Another unflattering comparison is John Cena’s blonde wig from “Barbie.” Despite the original “Moana” being one of the best animated Disney movies of all time, this live-action remake has inspired nothing but jokes so far.
The Moana trailer captures everything wrong with Disney live-action remakes
Disney
Regardless of how bad Dwayne Johnson’s wig looks, the live-action “Moana” is probably going to make a ton of money. 2024’s “Moana 2” made over $1 billion despite tepid reviews, including Looper saying it failed to recapture the magic of the original. That’s bound to be the case here, especially if the remake fails to take any risks or change up the source material in any way. And animation is often the superior medium.
“Moana” is an epic tale of a young girl going on an adventure to save her people. There’s a demigod, a singing crab, and a living volcano entity. Those kinds of things translate best to animation, even with something as seemingly simple as Maui’s bodily proportions. He’s a big guy who’s literally larger than life, but in the “Moana” live-action trailer, he’s just the Rock, as buff as he’s always been. It feels somewhat lazy, as @DWLundberg wrote on X: “I just can’t get over the idea that they just slapped a wig on The Rock for live-action #Moana and called it good … I can’t stop laughing at that.”
What’s even more humorous is that Maui was originally designed to be bald in the animated film, but Polynesian advisors recommended he have a full head of hair. So while it makes sense for Maui to have hair, perhaps a better wig should have been used or someone else cast. Auli’i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, was recast with Catherine Lagaʻaia for the upcoming film, so maybe Johnson should have stepped aside too. “Moana” comes out in theaters on July 10.