In photos obtained by The Daily Mail earlier this month, Johnson, 52, looked buff while donning Maui's iconic tattoos and dark locks while filming the Disney movie. While fans suspected that the actor had gained more muscle to bring the animated demigod to life, Johnson revealed that is not actually the case.
"That's a suit that took a long time to put on," he revealed in a recent interview with Extra. "So, I'm so happy you said, 'You bulked up,' because when you say, 'You bulked up,' that means you couldn't tell."
According to Johnson, the bodysuit takes "a couple of hours every day" to put on. "We shot outside and when those pictures surfaced, I was like, 'S -- , we got caught,' 'cause we were putting up, like, walls so there was no paparazzi," he explained. "But they got into boats and started shooting pictures. So, but I'm happy you liked it. I can't wait. The movie comes out in 2026."
The live-action version of Moana will follow the events of the hit 2016 animated film. Catherine Laga'aia will portray the Disney princess as she seeks out Johnson's Maui to help save her island. Other announced cast members include John Tui as Moana's father, Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Moana's mother, Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala.
Johnson told Extra that bringing the story to life has been an "eye-opening" experience, adding, "I have a handle on who Maui is. I know the voice, I know the man, I know his inspiration. I can access things. I got it."
Johnson has, however, noticed some differences between voicing Maui and playing him IRL. "The moment I stepped on set ... I realized right away, 'Oh, wow, this is different,' in terms of this is real flesh-and-blood and skin-and-bones," he shared. "It becomes real all of the sudden. It was almost like getting in my grandfather's skin and what that was like."
As the live-action Moana continues production, Johnson is also celebrating the release of Moana 2. The highly anticipated animated sequel -- which premiered on Wednesday, November 27 -- picks up with Moana (voiced by Auli'i Cravalho) a few years after the original as she sets out on a mission to connect her people across the ocean.
Ahead of the film's release, Johnson joked to Extra that both he and Maui are "egotistical, loud, [and have a] big mouth." He added: "I think, trying to find joy around every corner, even if things are a little screwy or wobbly, maybe in real life. So, I've had a tendency over the years to not sweep it under the carpet but just, I know funky s -- is going on and I'm dealing with it, but let me try and find a place over here where I can be happy or smile or try and access some happy and joy. I find myself doing that. It helps me deal with the not-joyous stuff."
