Dwayne Johnson faced unexpected physical strain while filming the live-action adaptation of Disney's Moana, according to recent comments from the actor.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the 'Black Adam' star detailed the difficulty of wearing heavy prosthetics and a specialized muscle suit to embody the demigod Maui.
Johnson noted that the combination of hair, prosthetics, and the costume added approximately 18 kilograms to his frame.
"What became a challenge, something I had to overcome very quickly and that I did not anticipate, were the prosthetics, the hair, and the suit," Johnson said.
He explained that the extra weight hindered his ability to move naturally during scenes.
"It was a challenge to adapt to how to express my emotions with those 18 kilos of prosthetics, hair, and the suit I was wearing," the actor added.
A tactile approach to character design
The actor chose physical prosthetics over digital visual effects to ensure a more authentic performance.
Johnson noted that while the production could have relied on CGI, a physical suit offered a different level of performance depth.
"There is a tactile and emotional resonance when it comes to a real body suit. It moves and breathes with you," Johnson told the publication.
Maintaining the character's massive physique proved difficult due to Johnson's existing filming schedule.
Following his role in 'The Smashing Machine,' Johnson had been working toward a lower body weight for his upcoming project, 'Lizard Music.'
To maintain the necessary bulk for Maui, the production utilized a heavy suit that caused significant heat exhaustion on set.
"Maui was a big guy; I couldn't have a huge suit and a small, thin neck. Adding 20 or 25 kilos is a lot," Johnson said.
He described the heat under the costume as exhausting, noting that crew members frequently used fans to cool him down between takes.
Disney has scheduled the live-action Moana for release on July 10, 2026.