Disney unveiled the first full trailer for its live-action remake of Moana on March 23, and the response has been anything but welcoming. While the studio hoped to build excitement for the July 10, 2026, release, fans instead flooded social media with criticism, much of it aimed directly at Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s appearance as the demigod Maui.
The backlash spans two major fronts: Johnson’s look in the role he originally voiced in 2016, and the broader question of why Disney is remaking a film that is barely a decade old and just received a sequel in 2024.
The most immediate source of mockery was Johnson’s on-screen appearance. The 53-year-old actor dons a long, flowing curly wig to portray the shape-shifting demigod, a stark departure from his signature bald look, and viewers did not hold back.
“That wig they put on the rock is killing me,” one user wrote. Another joked, “He looks like a baby found mama’s wig and tried it on for the first time”. Comparisons flew fast, with some likening the wig to a “Party City” purchase or suggesting it looked like something pulled from the set of the Barbie movie, where John Cena played a mermaid Ken.
Criticism extended beyond the hair. Fans noted the visible neckline of a muscle suit Johnson wears to achieve Maui’s imposing physique. “The neckline at the necklace is a giveaway,” one observer wrote, accusing the actor of not fully committing to the physical demands of the role . Johnson has previously defended the suit, designed by Oscar-winning makeup artist Joel Harlow, telling fans, “When you said, ‘You bulked up,’ that means you couldn’t tell”.
Others argued Johnson was simply the wrong choice. “Disney really needed to cast a bigger, muscular yet cherub Polynesian man…Someone who looks, dare I say, youthful. That ain’t the Rock,” one critic posted.
Beyond Johnson’s appearance, the backlash cut to the core of Disney’s remake strategy. The original Moana was released in 2016, just ten years ago, and the animated sequel, Moana 2, hit theaters in November 2024, grossing over $1 billion.
“A movie barely a decade old getting the remake treatment,” one person pointed out. Another mocked, “What can I say except, ‘Why did we need this?’”. The timing stands in stark contrast to Disney’s previous remakes: The Little Mermaid arrived 34 years after the original, Aladdin after 27 years, and The Lion King after 25.
Critics accused the studio of “nostalgia baiting” and called the project a “cynical cash grab” . Some even suggested the trailer looked like “a T-Mobile commercial” or a “parody AI trailer” one would find in the depths of YouTube. “Hundreds of millions of dollars wasted so Dwayne Johnson can don a terrible wig and deliver the same lines but with worse timing,” one blistering comment read.
Questions of cultural representation also surfaced. Newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia, a young actress of Samoan heritage, takes over the title role from Auliʻi Cravalho (who now serves as an executive producer) . While Lagaʻaia received less criticism than Johnson, some fans questioned why her hair appeared “blow-dried” rather than the natural, salt-water curls seen in the animated film.
Visually, critics noted the trailer appeared less vibrant than the original, with muted colors and heavy CGI that gave many scenes a green-screen feel. “literally just sucked up all the color this is awful,” one user posted alongside a side-by-side comparison. Others pointed out that Moana was filmed in both Atlanta and Hawaii, with some joking that “shooting even one second of a Polynesian-set movie in Atlanta should be a jailable offense”.
Despite the backlash, the film remains on track for its July 10, 2026 release date . Directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton) and featuring original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina, the live-action Moana is one of several remakes in Disney’s pipeline, with Tangled, Hercules, and Bambi also in development.
Whether the online criticism will translate to box office disappointment remains uncertain. Lilo & Stitch, another live-action remake, surpassed $1 billion in 2025 despite similar skepticism. For now, Disney is betting that the pull of the ocean, and the star power of The Rock, will outweigh the noise of the internet.
