While Dwayne Johnson is certainly no slacker when it comes to muscles and tattoos, the actor has revealed that he’s worn a bodysuit while shooting Disney‘s live-action Moana movie.
Johnson, of course, plays Maui, the incredibly buff demi god whose many tattoos help tell the story in the animated films.
After paparazzi caught Johnson in character on set, he was asked recently by Extra if he had “bulked up” for the live-action role, given that his physique looked different in the photos. Johnson came clean.
“That’s a suit that took a long time to put on,” he revealed. “So, I’m so happy you said, ‘You bulked up,’ because when you say, ‘You bulked up,’ that means you couldn’t tell.”
He added, “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.’ Because 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.”
Johnson and Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed the live-action project in April 2023, with the actor among the producers via his Seven Bucks Productions.
He called the process of playing the character live onscreen “eye-opening.”
Johnson said that through two animated films, “I have a handle on who Maui is: I know the voice, I know the man, I know his inspiration. I can access things. I got it.”
But conjuring the demi god in person was a new experience.
“The moment I stepped on set…as live-action Maui, I realized right away, ‘Oh, wow, this is different,’ in terms of this is real flesh-and-blood and skin-and-bones. It becomes real all of the sudden. It was almost like getting in my grandfather’s skin and what that was like.”
Johnson also spoke about his family connection to the material when he announced the project last year:
“This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me.”
The live-action Moana is currently slated for July 10, 2026.
