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Disney’sMoanawas a worldwide hit, grossing over $643 million across the globe. A fresh story set against the backdrop of the Polynesian Islands, it is an empowering story set of self-discovery. Not only does it tackle the themes of identity and respecting one’s roots but it also celebrates the rich Polynesian culture through a heartwarming tale. The movie also stars Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui.

Dwayne Johnson

While at a glance Maui would appear as the animated version of The Rock himself, the popular Disney character was actually inspired by the actor’s Samoan ancestor, his maternal grandfather wrestler High Chief Peter Maivia.

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Maui and Rock’s maternal grandfather

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Dwayne Johnson‘s character inMoana isone of the most beloved Disney characters. Initially appearing to be too arrogant and self-absorbed, he becomes a memorable character known for his amazing humor and personality. And Dwayne Johnson does a wonderful job portraying Maui, who is an integral part of the storyline.

Moana and Maui

Now all set to actually play the character in real life in the live-action remake of Moana, it is a no-brainer that The Rock would undeniably do a wonderful job. Just as amazing as it would be for fans to witness him reprise his iconic role in real life, it would be as amazing for the actor to play the character who is based on his late grandfather wrestler High Chief Peter Maivia.

Johnson revealed this little detail years ago when hetweeteda picture of the character and his Samoan ancestor,

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“a lil’@Disneygem of a secret, my character Maui was partly inspired by my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia of Samoa.#grateful”

The similarity between the two is shakingly striking, leading to many fanstweetingmultiple pictures of The Rock and his grandfather with captions like ‘Moana’s Maui VS The Rock’s literal actual grandfather’in disbelief.

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Dwayne Johnson Would Be Reprising His Role As Maui InMoanaLive-Action

Moanais one of the most successful Disney movies. And to have a live-action remake of the film has fans excited with anticipation. The announcement of the live-action remake came earlier this year when Dwayne Johnson announced it on his officialInstagram. And later in April he confirmed that he would be reprising his popular role when hetweeted,

“Thank you all so much for the love, excitement & support. Singing, dance, culture. Maui is the role of a lifetime and I’ll give it all I got.”

Apart from the release date and Johnson’s casting no other details regarding the script or music have been revealed about the movie. Even the details regarding who would be playing Moana have not been revealed other than the fact thatAuli’i Cravalho, who was the voice actor for Moana, would not be essaying her role in the live-action.

While the SAG-AFTRA strikes are expected to delay production, for now, the release date has been set for August 04, 2025.

Disney’s original animatedMoanacan be streamed on Disney+.

Source:X,Instagram, andX

Maria Sultan

Senior Writer

Articles Published :2703

Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.

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Auli’i CravalhoDwayne Johnson