Dwayne Johnson Reveals Why He Wore a 40-Pound Bodysuit in ‘Moana’ Live-Action Movie

Los Angeles — Dwayne Johnson Reveals the Truth About His Body in ‘Moana’ Live-Action Movie

Disney’s live-action adaptation of its hit animated musical Moana is now streaming on Disney+.

The film stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, with Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui, the demigod he previously voiced in the original animated movies. While the live-action version of Maui looks somewhat different from his animated counterpart, Johnson has revealed the reason behind his appearance.

The actor confirmed that his on-screen physique was enhanced with a bodysuit rather than reflecting his natural body at the time.

Dwayne Johnson Explains Why He Wore a Bodysuit as Maui

Johnson began filming Moana immediately after completing production on the independent film The Smashing Machine, in which he portrayed a UFC fighter navigating the highs and lows of his career.

“I went from Smashing Machine and I was 50 lbs. heavier than I am now,” Johnson told E! News, explaining that he had “no time to change my body.”

The actor said the production team considered having him appear on set with the physique he had developed for The Smashing Machine. However, they ultimately decided against the idea because of how dramatically different his appearance was.

“We were considering me just stepping on set how I looked in the Smashing Machine, but the body was just intensely different,” he continued. “We are the keepers of integrity, but also the fans are keepers of integrity, and if I stepped on set looking like how I looked, they would have had a complete organ rejection.”

Johnson ultimately wore a 40-pound bodysuit during filming to achieve Maui’s distinctive appearance.

The actor and producer also explained that the costume offered practical advantages for the visual effects team, particularly when it came to the character’s animated tattoos.

“It also worked out great because of visual effects, because the tattoos are alive. So it was easier for [the visual effects team] and a better treat for audiences to see it on the suit,” he said.