Dwayne Johnson Shares Why Portraying Maui in Live-Action ‘Moana’ Is a Distinct Honor

Disney’s highly anticipated live-action take on the beloved “Moana” is creating quite the buzz this summer. The film features Dwayne Johnson taking on the role of Maui and Catherine Laga’aia making waves as Moana herself. Both stars have been reflecting on their experiences bringing this cherished animated world to vivid life.

At a lively fan gathering in Sydney, Australia, Johnson shared his enthusiasm for stepping into the role of Maui. “It was amazing. It was a real honor to bring Maui to life from animation to live-action,” he expressed. Johnson’s connection to the character is deeply personal. “Two reasons. One, (Maui) was inspired by my grandfather, the great High Chief Peter Maivia. I lost him when I was 10 years old. He was one of my heroes. And also, the honor of representing culture,” he explained.

In addition to his role in Sydney, Johnson’s promotional tour also took him to Shanghai, China, where he delighted “Moana” fans by showcasing his impressive rapping ability, further endearing himself to audiences worldwide.

For Catherine Laga’aia, her cinematic debut as Moana has been a transformative journey, one that mirrors the adventures of her character. At the same Sydney event, she revealed, “I feel like I’ve learned as much about myself as Moana did herself on her journey. I feel like I really went through kind of a similar process, almost in an alternate world, kind of stepping so far away from home into something that I’d never experienced before. So I think I grew a lot in that process, and I’m really proud of the person who’s kind of come out of it.”

Director Thomas Kail also praised Laga’aia’s performance while in Sydney, noting that her casting was seamless. “She has that thing, you know, that thing that I say, you can only coach it, you can’t teach it,” he remarked, affirming that her presence on screen captured the essence of Moana beautifully.

Fans can prepare for the upcoming film by watching the animated “Moana” and “Moana 2” streaming now on Disney+.

Watch the live-action “Moana” in theaters on July 10.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Disney+ and this ABC station.