Disney’s upcoming live-action Moana is already making waves online, but not always for the right reasons, with many social media users blasting its dull visuals and, especially, Dwayne Johnson’s bizarre curly wig, as reported by Variety. The star is set to reprise his voice role as the demigod Maui from the 2016 original, and while the character’s animated look certainly features a magnificent mane, the live-action version has sparked quite a bit of online chatter.
It seems audiences just can’t get past the voluminous, curly locks given to the famously bald Johnson. One person on X called it “the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen,” which is a pretty strong reaction. Another user chimed in, saying, “Dwayne Johnson with hair just doesn’t feel right… I can’t unsee this.”
My personal favorite jab came from Weird Al Yankovic, who joked that the wig’s curl pattern looked eerily similar to his own. He hilariously captioned his post with a close-up of Johnson, saying, “We’ve told all the casting agents that the Weird Al biopic sequel is currently on hold, but they just keep sending in headshots.”
Despite all the online noise, the Moana trailer actually racked up an impressive 132 million views across YouTube and other social platforms in its first 24 hours
That number absolutely crushes the first looks for Moana 2, the live-action Mufasa, Barbie, Wonka, and even Johnson’s own Red One. So, as Johnson’s delightful deity would sing, “What can I say except, ‘You’re welcome.’”
Johnson’s transformation for the role was extensive, so this wasn’t just a throw-on-a-wig situation. He shared that he spent two and a half hours every day in the makeup chair, juggling both Maui’s wig and a hefty 40-pound prosthetic bodysuit. Johnson explained that the wig was “very crucial and important” for maintaining the integrity of the animated character, who was incredibly proud of his “beautiful demigod hair.” He also mentioned that the filmmakers considered using digital effects for Maui’s hair but ultimately decided against it.
Maui’s hair wasn’t the only thing getting roasted online. Users also took aim at the overall look of the film, with one person observing, “I don’t understand how they managed to make Polynesia, of all places, look so washed out and dull.”
This is a common criticism for Disney’s live-action films, with many fans pointing out heavy CGI or desaturated visuals in movies like Mufasa and Snow White. While Moana‘s coloring and visual effects aren’t fully complete, it sounds like there are no plans for a major creative pivot despite the social media pile-on.
The new Moana was shot on location on Oahu in Hawaii, but also at Trillith Studios in Atlanta for some of the more visual effects-heavy action sequences. One X user jokingly called shooting a Polynesian-set movie in Atlanta a “jailable offense.” Cinematographer Óscar Faura, known for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, had the challenge of blending the in-camera footage with the digitally captured images. Bill Westenhofer, who worked on Life of Pi and its extensive CGI seascapes, is supervising the visual effects.
It’s not unusual for special-effects-heavy movies to get a rough reception online when audiences get their first glimpse. Insiders argue that these commentators are often just the loudest voices and don’t actually reflect popular enthusiasm for a project. In fact, an insider asserts that less than 5% of mentions related to Moana involved negative discourse about Maui’s hair or the overall look.
Published: Mar 27, 2026 07:00 pm