Disney released the first official trailer for its live-action adaptation of “Moana” on Monday. The footage immediately drew heavy criticism from audiences regarding the overall production value and the physical appearance of Dwayne Johnson’s character, Maui. The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 10, 2026, exactly ten years after the original animated release.
To recreate the demigod’s massive animated physique, Johnson wore a 40-pound prosthetic bodysuit complete with tattoos designed by make-up artist Joel Harlow. The practical effects approach required approximately two-and-a-half hours of daily application. Johnson described wearing the heavy suit as grueling due to the intense heat generated by the materials.
Director Thomas Kail and the creative team opted for practical effects over CGI to establish a tactile, emotional resonance on screen. A central point of the recent online backlash focused on Maui’s signature long hair, which was achieved using a custom wig.
Kail noted the hairpiece required real lift to catch the wind authentically on the water. When saturated, the wet wig added an extra seven pounds of weight to Johnson’s costume.
Social media reactions compared the film’s overall aesthetic to a television sketch rather than a big-budget feature. The criticism arrives amid broader frustration over Disney’s production timeline. The live-action project follows less than two years after the billion-dollar theatrical release of “Moana 2” in November 2024, representing the studio’s tightest turnaround for a live-action remake to date.
The film stars 19-year-old Catherine Laga’aia in the titular role. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced the character in the 2016 animated original, stepped down from the live-action lead to allow another Pacific Islander actress to take the part. Cravalho serves as an executive producer on the project, which is currently in post-production and early marketing phases.