Hollywood superstars literally don’t come much bigger than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and his presence loomed large over Thursday’s fan event in Sydney for Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana.
Johnson reprises the role of demigod Maui in the movie, after playing the shapeshifter in two previous animated versions of the musical that collectively amassed $2.45 billion at the global box office.
The former WWE star was greeted by hundreds of adoring fans as he walked the blue carpet at the International Convention Centre with co-star Catherine Laga’aia (daughter of Aussie screen veteran Jay), who has the title role in her big-screen debut.
Johnson told The West Australian his portrayal of the character of Maui was based on his own grandfather, the legendary Samoan professional wrestler and elected clan leader, High Chief Peter Maivi.
“That meant so much to me in the animated films, but, brother, making a live-action and becoming Maui in that way, with his tattoos and the body and the hair, it was very surreal, and some days it was, admittedly, it was emotional,” Johnson said.
For Laga’aia, the key was keeping her emotions under control when it came to working with a bona fide superstar such as Johnson.
“Immediately off the bat I was like, ‘OK, you can’t really treat him like Dwayne Johnson, he’s got to be like one of your brothers, one of your uncles,” the 19-year-old told The West Australian.
“You can say that as much as you want, but, when you see Dwayne Johnson standing in front of you, it’s always going to be Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.”
The respect was mutual.
“She had to have guts,” Johnson said of his co-star.
“This is Moana, and it is beloved, and by families and people all around the world, and some people might say, ‘Wait, why would you make this? Who is this? Who’s Catherine? Who’s this new Moana, and ... I was just like, ‘Just wait and see, I think we’ve made a good one’.”
Laga’aia had big shoes to fill replacing the excellent voice performance of the original animated Moana, Auli’i Cravalho, including on soaring musical numbers like How Far I’ll Go.
“I had a front row seat in watching her every day,” Johnson said.
Johnson went straight from shooting the acclaimed biopic, The Smashing Machine, to Moana, and admitted he was focused on getting the best out of the young actor.
“I’m in these scenes with her and I was unrelenting. That’s because … this film is important to me, and it’s important to our culture, and it’s important to get it right for all the people out there who loved the animated movies,” he said.
“It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I consider you my daughter, therefore I take it easy, no’ … but, man, she held her own in just beautiful ways, I was so proud of her.”
The star of the Fast & Furious and Jumanji franchises believes this trial of fire — the film does have a fire monster — will help Laga’aia as she carves her own place in Hollywood in the years to come.
“In a week and a half when this film comes out, life as she knows it has changed forever, and that’s a cool thing,” Johnson said. “But I believe she has a value system to keep her grounded and keep her humble and keep her hungry, and she’s talented, man.”
Moana is in cinemas July 8.
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