Followers have identified Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for one unmistakable look: a shaved head. Therefore, when the actor donned an extended, curly wig to rework into Maui for the live-action “Moana” film, the web wasted no time turning his new look into memes. Quite than taking offense, The Rock admitted he discovered the jokes hilarious and laughed together with followers.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is as soon as once more entering into the function of the demigod Maui for the live-action adaptation of “Moana.” The previous wrestler beforehand voiced the larger-than-life character in 2016’s animated movie of the identical title, serving to flip Maui into certainly one of Disney’s most memorable figures. Almost a decade later, he’s bringing the character to life.
Whereas The Rock’s physique intently matches Maui’s, the character’s lengthy, flowing hair is a stark distinction to the actor’s signature shaved head. The movie’s trailer, which dropped in March, gave delivery to many memes mocking The Rock’s curly wig.
Regardless of the backlash, The Rock discovered the feedback hilarious, as he mentioned throughout an interview on the premiere of “Moana.”
“I laughed so f-cking onerous after we first got here out, and other people noticed me in a wig for the primary time. They memed me. The web did the web. It was very, very humorous, however I used to be like, ‘Okay, it’s all proper, simply see the film,’” he advised a reporter from Variety.
Followers had blended reactions upon seeing Johnson with hair, with many commenting that the hair clearly seemed like a wig and that, given the massive price range, the manufacturing may have finished a greater job. Some in contrast The Rock’s Maui look to John Cena’s character Kenmaid in “Barbie,” asking customers which former wrestler wore their wig higher.
“He’s been bald for thus lengthy at this level, that it’s like seeing Squidward with hair,” one commented. “Maui genuinely seems like an SNL skit,” one other added.
Parody singer Weird Al Yankovic, who has lengthy, curly locks himself, weighed in on the web buzz and posted a photograph of Johnson as Maui on Instagram, jokingly writing, “We’ve advised all of the casting brokers that the Bizarre Al biopic sequel is at present on maintain, however they simply maintain sending in headshots.”
The Rock Has Performed A Few Characters With Hair
Admittedly, The Rock mentioned it was “jarring” for his children to see him painting Maui attributable to his hair. The actor mentioned they had been so used to him being bald that it was an enormous transformation to see him have lengthy, curly tresses, he advised E! News.
Whereas many followers are used to seeing The Rock sans hair, he beforehand appeared on the silver display screen with completely different hairstyles.
Within the “The Mummy” spinoff “The Scorpion King,” launched in 2002, The Rock performed Mathayus and had an extended, darkish mane. Within the 2014 motion fantasy movie “Hercules,” he performed the titular character and sported wavy, shoulder-length hair. The Rock portrayed UFC fighter Mark Kerr within the 2025 biopic “The Smashing Machine,” by which he had intently cropped hair.
The Actor Has A Haircare Line
Johnson launched his males’s grooming line, Papatui, in 2024, to interrupt the stereotype in opposition to “powerful guys” and encourage males to overtly speak about private care. A few of his merchandise embrace facial wash, moisturizers, deodorants, soaps, and hair care.
In early June, TikToker Katy Napier referred to as out Johnson for promoting hair care merchandise when he doesn’t have hair. “Don’t surrender in your goals. The Rock is promoting shampoo and conditioner, and he’s bald,” she mentioned. The video went viral, and the actor was one of many individuals who noticed it.
The Rock stitched Napier’s video along with his personal clip, smiling on the digital camera whereas carrying his Maui costume and wig. “Okay this made me stomach chuckle… HARD. And hey, typically a Demigod’s radiant and ravishing hair wants shampoo/conditioner. You’re Welcooooome,” he wrote within the caption, including that he had a “large a-s present” he’s sending Napier.
The Rock Attended The ‘Moana’ Premiere With His Household
Johnson introduced his household to the July 7 premiere of “Moana” in Los Angeles and posed for pictures on the blue carpet.
He was joined by his mom, Ata; his spouse, Lauren Hashian; their two daughters, Jasmine and Tiana; his ex-wife, Dany Garcia, and her husband, Dave Rienzi; and his daughter with Dany, Simone.
In an interview, The Rock shared how particular the live-action movie was to him. “All the things carries a special weight. Actual flesh and blood, human beings, soul behind the eyes, like, after which bits as actual as us sitting right here. It was the chance for us to, I believe, showcase our tradition in an actual means,” he mentioned.
“Moana” might be launched in theaters on July 10.
