Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson was spotted showing off his chiseled physique on the beaches of Hawaii while filming scenes for Disney's live action version of 'Moana', reports Dailymail. The 52-year-old actor, who voiced Maui in the 2016 animated 'Moana', was seen fully embodying the Polynesian demigod in character. Johnson went shirtless, revealing tattoos on his body, and wore a traditional leaf skirt, further bringing the character to life. Known for his muscular physique, The Rock looked more ripped up than ever, boasting some of the most defined pecs and arms.
Between takes, Johnson sported a flowing black wig, a whalebone necklace and tinted sunglasses, summing up the full Maui look. He was also spotted wielding Maui's magical fish hook, a key prop in the original film that gives the demigod shapeshifting abilities. The actor was accompanied by 17-year-old actress Catherine Laga'aia, who plays Moana, the titular heroine in the live-action remake as per IMDb reports.
The live action adaptation of 'Moana' will hit theaters on July 10, 2026, and made its way into cinemas after the gigantic success of the original animated movie, which will surpass 687 million worldwide. Johnson has a reason to be passionate about this part since he is of Samoan descent through his mother's side. He has earlier said how this story revealed his culture, a fact where his people's grace and warrior power are the core of the story. According to him, one of the individuals he took inspiration from is his grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, a prominent figure in Samoan culture as well as wrestling. He also said that he channels the spirit of his late grandfather in bringing Maui to life.
The living picture adaptation will feature returning characters like Moana (voiced in the animated version by Auli'i Cravalho) but now have new additions, such as John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. Lin-Manuel Miranda has composed the music for this film, and it was directed by Thomas Kail, who directed 'Hamilton'.
He has tweeted on his enthusiasm for adapting 'Moana' into live-action, emphasizing how vital it is to Pacific Island culture to make it happen with music and dance-the essence of Polynesian identity. The Rock is utterly enthusiastic about the role and says it would be a great honor to the heritage he came from.
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