As a cinephile who has been following Dwayne Johnson‘s career since his WWE days, I must say that the news about him wearing a muscle suit for the live-action version of Moana didn’t come as a surprise. The man is known for his dedication to physical fitness, after all! However, it does seem a bit excessive, considering the advances in CGI technology we have today. But hey, who am I to argue with Disney?
Recently, images emerged online showing Dwayne Johnson on the set of Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana, wearing a muscle suit that had fans criticizing the 52-year-old actor. The reason for this criticism is that the suit helps Johnson resemble his animated counterpart, Maui, who has tattoos significantly different from Johnson’s own and boasts muscles even larger than those of the former WWE champion.
In a recent chat with Extra (as seen in the clip below), Johnson admitted that indeed it was a suit they were wearing, and explained that they went to extraordinary measures to maintain secrecy, even erecting barriers around the beach where filming took place to shield their actions from the persistent cameras of paparazzi. Given the lessons learned from films such as 2004’s “Paparazzi” and real-life incidents like Princess Diana’s unfortunate demise, we are well aware that photographers will stop at nothing to capture that perfect image.
I stepped outdoors, capturing moments under the open sky. Later, when those images emerged, I found myself expressing surprise, ‘Oh dear, it seems we’ve been spotted.’ You see, we were in the process of constructing barriers to keep the paparazzi at bay. However, they managed to sneak up on us, hopping into boats and snapping photos.
In simpler terms, Johnson mentioned that the bodysuit was not quick to wear, instead taking him around two hours daily for a transformation process. Essentially, he meant “a couple of hours every day of transforming.” Despite advancements in CGI technology that could potentially alter his tattoos and build-up, some might wonder, this method is actually more cost-effective than digitally modifying each scene frame by frame. Given Disney’s focus on budget reduction, it’s an understandable choice, and ultimately, it’s not a significant issue in the broader context of production.
Johnson Calls the Experience of Playing a Live-Action Maui “Eye-Opening”
In 2016, Johnson initially brought Maui to life in an animated movie. Now, he’s set to reprise the role once more in the anticipated sequel, Moana 2, poised to break records during the five-day Thanksgiving weekend. The live-action adaptation of Moana was confirmed for 2023, and Johnson described the process of embodying Maui as “enlightening.” Despite his intimate knowledge of the character, it’s a different experience to convey Maui’s mannerisms for global audiences.
As soon as I set foot on the live-action Maui set, it struck me instantly, “Wow, this is something else,” because it was tangible, made of real flesh and bones. It suddenly became a genuine experience. It felt like slipping into my grandfather’s persona and understanding what that sensation was like.
You’ll witness the fruits of everyone’s labor when Disney’s “Moana” premieres in theaters in 2026, a production that is likely to continue the company’s success as a money-maker. Until then, why not take a look at Moana 2 currently screening in cinemas nationwide.
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2024-11-28 19:04