The live-action Moana movie officially hits theaters this Friday. While some fans are questioning whether the Disney remake is necessary so soon after the 2016 animated original, the new Moana is already delivering one thing we rarely see: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with a full head of hair. I know, I’m scared too.
Dwayne Johnson on Maui’s Hair
When Disney dropped the first look at Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui—complete with long, flowing locks—social media erupted. We’re so used to the actor’s iconic bald look that seeing him with voluminous curls felt like a glitch in the matrix.
Speaking with THR at the Moana premiere in Los Angeles, Johnson revealed he loved the internet’s wild reaction. “It was so funny,” he said. “I spent 48 hours laughing at it, because the internet can be very funny at times, and I appreciate it.“
The actor acknowledged that seeing him with a mane takes some getting used to, but urged fans to trust the process.
“Anytime you see a first look at something, you’re looking at it through a keyhole,” Johnson explained. “I knew; I was like, ‘You’re not seeing the vast ocean of it all.’ It’s OK, give it time, I know we made a pretty good movie. And I get it, I’m a pretty well-known bald actor and you see me all of a sudden with long flowing locks and curls.“
Why Maui Almost Didn’t Have Hair
The animated version of Maui almost looked entirely different. Originally, Disney’s creative team envisioned the demigod as bald. However, when they pitched the idea to the Oceanic Cultural Trust—a group of Pacific Islander consultants hired to ensure cultural accuracy—the response was a hard no.
“They said, ‘Maui’s hair is his power, there is no Maui without hair,’” live-action director Thomas Kail shared. “So there was never a question — so that’s why Maui had hair there and that’s why Maui has hair now.“
First Reactions Are Rough
The first reactions began landing earlier today, and oh boy, they’re not very complimentary. Many called out the remake for being a lazy copy-and-paste job, nearly identical to the original film, only with bland visuals and no new ideas.
A third animated Moana movie is reportedly in development, but hopefully this live-action remake doesn’t take the wind out of the franchise’s sails.
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