Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is about to say "you're welcome" in live-action form—and it involved 40 pounds of prosthetics.
The 54-year-old actor explained to E! News why becoming Maui in Disney's live-action Moana required a full prosthetic suit. Coming straight off his role as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine—where he was 50 pounds heavier—Johnson had no time to slim down before the July 10 theatrical release.
"From Smashing Machine, I went directly on set with Catie," Johnson told E! News, referring to costar Catherine Laga'aia. "I had no time to change my body."
The filmmakers weighed ditching the prosthetics but decided against it. "We are the keepers of integrity, but also the fans are keepers of integrity," Johnson said. "If I stepped on set looking like how I looked, they would have had a complete organ rejection." The devoted fanbase expected to see Maui's signature physique, not Johnson's current frame.
Joel Harlow, the Academy Award-winning makeup artist, crafted what Johnson called "40 pounds of suit that was hot as s--t!" The solution also simplified animating Maui's legendary glowing tattoos for the visual effects team.
But matching the character's appearance was only part of the challenge. Johnson and Laga'aia also had to perform the film's musical numbers, including the iconic songs from the 2016 animated original.
"These are iconic songs that are beloved, and this is our live-action version, so you gotta step up to the plate," Johnson said. "You feel the pressure. You gotta bring the A-plus-plus game to this thing. And you gotta have a great partner. That's what I had."
The live-action Moana also stars Emily Blunt and hits theaters July 10.
