Actor Dwayne Johnson turned emotional during the presentation of the live-action Moana at CinemaCon 2026. In a video shared on his social media over the weekend, Johnson revealed that his character, Maui, is inspired by his grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia. He shared that his grandfather passed away when he was just 10 years old, but they shared a close bond. The actor also posted a picture of his grandfather, describing him as a “big” and “powerful” man.
Dwayne Johnson on Moana live action film
“As many of you know- and maybe some of you don’t- the character of Maui was deeply inspired by my grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia. He’s walking in the clouds now. He passed away when I was 10 years old. We were very close—about as close as a 10-year-old kid can be. This is my grandfather. He inspired the character of Maui. He’d be very proud right now,” Johnson said in the video.
He further spoke about his grandfather’s personality, saying it wasn’t just his physical traits like hair, tattoos, and strong build that inspired Maui, but also his charisma and spirit. “He was incredibly charismatic, powerful, and had a wicked sense of humour. He loved to sing and would often play the ukulele. He enjoyed songs like ‘My Way’ and ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’”
Johnson added that his grandfather’s spirit and “mana” shaped Maui’s character when he first portrayed him years ago. He expressed a deep sense of pride, gratitude, and emotional connection while bringing the character to life on screen. “Every word he sings, every ‘chee hoo’—that’s my grandfather. This is for you, High Chief,” he said.
The actor also shared the video with a heartfelt note, expressing how much he misses his grandfather.
About Moana
The film is directed by Emmy and Tony Award winner Thomas Kail and produced by Johnson alongside Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. It is executive-produced by Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth, and Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated features Moana (2016) and Moana 2 (2024).
“Moana answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui, on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people,” reads the logline of the film.
Produced by Walt Disney Studios, the live-action Moana is set to release in theatres on July 10, 2026, in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
