Movie theater owners got another look at Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson’s curly locks as the demigod Maui in Disney‘s live-action “Moana.”
The studio brought an extended look at the remake to CinemaCon, the annual movie theater trade show held at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Johnson himself turned up to discuss his personal connection to the character of Maui, which he voiced in the animated original.
“The animated version was just an amazing experience for us as Polynesian people. Maui has been with me for over a decade, and to have the opportunity to bring this powerful and vulnerable demigod to life means so much to me,” Johnson said.
The “Smashing Machine” star also shared that the animated character’s look was based in part on his own grandfather — Samoan professional wrestler Peter “High Chief” Maivia. Johnson whipped out his phone and shared a photo of Maivia with the audience, who applauded at the likeness.
Before introducing leading lady Catherine Laga’aia, Johnson delivered a thoughtful speech about her character. “The hero of our story is not a princess, she’s a warrior,” Johnson told the crowd, saying his role as Maui is to guide and empower her. “All men of all ages, we should empower and support and champion all women. That’s what real masculinity looks like.”
Based on the 2016 animated film, the live-action “Moana” centers on a plucky teenager who ventures across the ocean to save her island and its people from a curse. Along the way, she receives help from the all-powerful deity called Maui. Thomas Kail, best known for “Hamilton,” is directing the film, which stars newcomer Catherine Laga’aia as Moana and Johnson as Maui.
The original “Moana” was successful at the box office with $680 million globally, but the oceanic adventure really exploded in popularity on Disney+, where it’s remained one of the most watched streaming titles. The animated sequel, originally developed for streaming before pivoting to theaters, became a billion-dollar smash.
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This “Moana” will be the latest test of Disney’s live-action ambitions. Last March’s “Snow White” adaptation was a major commercial failure, while last May’s “Lilo & Stitch” remake was a triumph with $1 billion globally. A key difference between the reception of two films was relevance (or lack thereof) — the original “Snow White” was released 1937 and no longer hold cultural cachet, while “Lilo & Stitch” has remained popular since the blue agent of chaos first crashed into theaters in 2002. Families love “Moana,” but could it be too soon to return to the island of Motunui?
From Variety US