Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson denies that Moana live-action remake has come 'too soon'

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has rejected arguments that it is "too soon" for a live-action Moana remake.

The 54-year-old star reprises his role as demigod Maui in the new live-action take on the 2016 Disney animated flick and explained that he didn't see the need to wait "20 years" before making another version of the movie.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the Moana premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday (07.07.26), Johnson said: "To be honest with you, I never bought into this idea that, 'You have to wait 20 years, you have to wait 30 years, it's too soon.'

"I honestly never did, and not because I'm biased and I made the film, but because there's themes and values in this, in animated Moana, that could translate really well if you saw a real human being going through it, and a real young girl going through it."

Director Thomas Kail agrees that a decade is enough time between the two projects.

The 49-year-old filmmaker – who makes his feature directorial debut on the live-action Moana – said: "All those seven-year-olds who saw it that are 17, all those 10-year-olds who are 20 – those are seismic changes in our lives and I think all people's affection for this film, which was shown when Moana 2 came out, I think people want to be with their friends up on screen and they want to be with this score."

He also noted how theatres "do revivals all the time" as they look to introduce classic stories to new audiences.

The long, flowing wig worn by Johnson in the movie – a stark contrast to his bald head – has generated plenty of discussion online and the Red Notice star has been amused by the reaction.

The Rock said: "Anytime you see a first look at something, you're looking at it through a keyhole. I knew: I was like, 'You're not seeing the vast ocean of it all.'

"It's OK, give it time, I know we made a pretty good movie. And I get it, I'm a pretty well-known bald actor and you see me all of a sudden with long flowing locks and curls."

Kail explained that Maui was going to be bald in the animated version of Moana, but film chiefs decided to give him long hair for authenticity when Pacific Islander consultants revealed the importance of flowing locks.

He said: "Maui's hair is his power, there is no Maui without hair. So there was never a question – so that's why Maui had hair there and that's why Maui has hair now."

The director quipped about Johnson's wig: "I think when you see it in the body of the film, you get used to it pretty quick. It's not the strangest thing in the world!"