Dwayne Johnson’s CGI Maui Look in Moana Live-Action Is Dividing Fans

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was born to play Maui. At least, that’s what fans thought — until they got their first real look at his CGI transformation in Disney’s upcoming Moana live-action remake.

And let’s just say the reaction has been… complicated.

Images and footage from the film’s early previews have sparked a wave of disappointment online, with many fans expressing frustration over how Johnson’s Maui has been rendered using computer-generated imagery. Rather than leaning into the actor’s famously imposing physique, Disney appears to have built an entirely digital body around him — and viewers are not impressed.

“It looks like he’s wearing a Halloween costume,” one fan wrote on social media, a sentiment that quickly went viral. Others pointed out that Johnson’s arms — arguably his most recognizable physical feature — appear noticeably smaller in the CGI design than in real life.

The criticism cuts deeper for longtime fans of Johnson’s wrestling career. A source close to the fan community tells us that many WWE and WWF faithful were hoping the role would serve as a kind of nostalgic callback to the superstar’s peak physique from his ring days in the early 2000s. Instead, they feel the CGI work actually diminishes the very qualities that made Johnson such a natural fit for the demigod character.

“He’s a big man. You don’t need to modify what’s already there,” one fan wrote, echoing a broader frustration that Disney overlooked an obvious asset.

It’s worth noting that the original animated Moana arrived in 2016 — barely a decade ago — making the live-action remake feel premature to many audiences regardless of casting. The beloved soundtrack, the cultural resonance of the story, and the animated film’s visual legacy are all high bars to clear, and the early CGI concerns aren’t doing the production any favors in the court of public opinion.

Disney has yet to officially respond to the backlash, and it remains to be seen whether any visual adjustments will be made before the film’s release. Johnson himself has not publicly addressed the criticism.

For now, fans are left hoping that what’s seen in early previews isn’t the final product — because if there’s one thing The Rock’s supporters agree on, it’s that he deserved better than this.