The Rock on the movie "Moana": "The biggest challenge was the prosthetics, the hair and the whole body"

Disney has released the first trailer for the live-action version of "Moana," in which audiences can once again see Dwayne The Rock Johnson in the role of the demigod Maui.

Johnson's appearance in the new version has caused mixed reactions from fans of the original animated film. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Thomas Kail explained how Maui's visual identity was created.

"We knew it had to have realistic movement, especially since a lot of the action takes place on water. The question of 'what does it look like when it's wet?' was key during filming. The wig, for example, becomes about three kilograms heavier when soaked with water during long filming days," Kail explained.

Johnson said he didn't expect how challenging it would be to bring the character of Maui to life, especially due to the complex makeup and costumes.

"The biggest challenge was the prosthetics, the hair and the whole body. That's about an extra 40 kilos that you carry around," said the actor.

"There is freedom in acting and singing, but here I had to learn how to express emotions under such a burden," he added, pointing out that filming the film followed work on the project "The Smashing Machine", for which he had to gain weight, while at the same time losing weight for another project by director Benny Seyfdi.

"Maui is a big character and I couldn't lose weight, because it shows in the neck first. You can't have a big body and a skinny neck. Adding 40 or 50 pounds is a lot, and it's even harder to maintain it for months. It was exhausting because of the costumes and the heat. Between scenes, five or six people would cool me with fans and help me take off some of the equipment," Johnson explained.

The actor also addressed the film's significance for Polynesian culture, emphasizing the responsibility the project carries.

"Realize that you represent cultures and people who were sailors, warriors, but also those who were stripped of their language and land. Despite everything, they have preserved their pride, community, and willingness to share their culture. We are all participating in this together, and it really feels different," the actor said.

The premiere of the film "Moana" is scheduled for July 10th.