Just in: Dwayne Johnson Unspools New ‘Moana’ Footage, Talks Channeling Grandfather In Role Of Maui – CinemaCon….see more

In his appearance on stage in Las Vegas, Johnson said “Maui is very real” to Polynesian people and that it’s been “an amazing experience” living with the character for 10+ years.

He said the character embodies “what real masculinity looks like,” with men supporting and championing women, and noted that he channeled his late, beloved grandfather in the role.Bringing the story into live-action, he said, has been an exciting opportunity to tap into the “flesh and blood and mana” at its core.

This Moana comes on the heels of Moana 2, which grossed over $1 billion worldwide in 2024. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, the original animated feature marked one of Disney’s biggest hits of the modern era, spawning a franchise after grossing over $680 million worldwide and landing two Academy Awards nominations.

Set in ancient Polynesia, Moana follows the daughter of a village chief, who is chosen by the ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save her people, embarking on a voyage across the Pacific alongside the shape-shifting demigod Maui.