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Dwayne Johnson reveals if he's wearing a bodysuit for live-action Moana movie

By Matthew Liebl

MAUI RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN – Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Moana 2” reunites Moana with Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage to the far seas of Oceania. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. The all-new
MAUI RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN – Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Moana 2” reunites Moana with Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage to the far seas of Oceania. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. The all-new /
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Dwayne Johnson is a pretty big dude, but turns out even The Rock isn't big enough to play the larger-than-life demigod Maui in the upcoming live-action Moana movie without a little bit of help.

Set photos of Johnson playing Maui seemed to reveal that the actor is wearing a bodysuit to help bring the character to life. No one knew for certain whether this was the case, but now the actor has finally confirmed.

While promoting Moana 2, Extra asked Johnson, a WWE wrestler turned superstar actor, if he bulked up for the role. Although Johnson already boasts massive muscles, he admitted that they are using the help of a bodysuit.

“That’s a suit that took a long time to put on,” Johnson revealed. “So, I’m so happy you said, ‘You bulked up,’ because when you say, ‘You bulked up,’ that means you couldn’t tell.”

Johnson addressed the leaked set photos as well, adding: "That is a couple of hours every day of transforming, putting that on. We shot outside and when those pictures surfaced, I was like, ‘Sh*t, we got caught, ’cause we were putting up, like, walls so there was no paparazzi. But they got into boats and started shooting pictures. So, but I'm happy you liked it. I can't wait. The movie comes out in 2026.”

It's not just the muscles that the bodysuit helps with. Maui is known for his Neo-Polynesian Tribal tattoos, so the suit makes it easier to replicate this as well.

Johnson first voiced the character of Maui in 2016's animated film Moana. The original film, which also starred Auli‘i Cravalho as the voice of Moana, grossed nearly $644 million at the global box office and was one of the most popular streamed movies in the United States in 2022.

Johnson revealed plans for the live-action reimagining of Moana April 2023, and in June of this year, it was confirmed that he'd be returning to reprise his role in the flesh. Auli‘i Cravalho, however, will not be returning as Moana. Playing the titular adventurous teenager is 17-year-old Catherine Laga'aia.

The live-action Moana movie is schedule to arrive in theaters in 2026. In the meantime, families can enjoy Moana 2 in theaters this weekend. The sequel, which was originally envisioned as a Disney+ series before Disney reworked it into a feature film for theatrical release, hasn't gotten great reviews but that hasn't stopped it from achieving record-breaking box office numbers.

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