The first full trailer for the live-action version of Moana, released on March 23rd, quickly became a hot topic online. While many people were excited to see the colorful world of Motunui come to life, a lot of fans were immediately disappointed with how Dwayne Johnson looked as the demigod Maui.
Specifically, people focused on his hair and felt his transformation into the character wasn’t realistic. A lot of the online conversation centered around Johnson’s wig, which many fans found jarring because they’re used to seeing him with a shaved head.
One social media user wrote shortly after the trailer dropped, “A non-bald Dwayne Johnson feels so wrong.” Another commenter added that the problem wasn’t just the hair, but that the wig didn’t look well-made.
New look at Dwayne Johnson as Maui on the set of Disney’s new live-action ‘Moana’ film.
— Creepy.org (@creepydotorg) November 21, 2024
Viewers weren’t just critical of the character’s appearance; some questioned why the animated story was made into a live-action film at all. One fan compared the look to a poorly done costume, and many others said the character didn’t resemble the original animated version. One critic shared side-by-side images, asking, “Other than the tattoo, what even matches?”
A major issue was the fact that Dwayne Johnson used a bodysuit to create Maui’s large physique instead of gaining the weight naturally. Photos taken on set in Hawaii showed a visible zipper near his neck, leading to accusations that he hadn’t fully committed to the physical transformation. One person pointed out, “The line of the zip at his necklace is a dead giveaway,” suggesting the artificial muscles were too noticeable.
Animation ➡️ Live-Action.
Dwayne Johnson as Maui in the live-action ‘MOANA’.
In theaters July 10.
— Nexus Point News (@NexusPointNews) March 23, 2026
Dwayne Johnson has come to the defense of the makeup work done by Oscar winner Joel Harlow, who created the special suit Johnson wore for the film. Johnson previously mentioned the suit was time-consuming to apply and he was pleased it fooled some people into thinking he’d physically bulked up. As he explained, “If you thought I bulked up, that means the suit worked!”
Meanwhile, Catherine Laga‘aia, who plays the lead role, has also received criticism. Some fans of the original animated Moana noticed her hair is much straighter than the naturally curly hair of the character in the 2016 film, with one commenter questioning how someone living on a remote island would have such styled hair. Despite the concerns about authenticity, the live-action Moana is still a highly anticipated summer release, scheduled to premiere on July 10th.
The film, directed by Thomas Kail, builds upon the original story’s mythology while retaining its musical elements. Catherine Laga‘aia, the daughter of Jay Laga‘aia, takes on the role originally voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho, who is now an executive producer on the project.
Dwayne Johnson is still working on many projects, even with his busy film schedule. He recently appeared in The Smashing Machine, an A24 biographical drama where he played MMA fighter Mark Kerr. To prepare for the role, he underwent a significant physical transformation and wore facial prosthetics.
With the movie coming out in July, the team making it will be carefully watching what viewers think of the special effects and how the characters look. It’s still uncertain if the film can shake off some initial negative reactions and live up to the beloved original.
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2026-03-24 13:53