They are saying each function leaves a mark—however within the case of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, one function might have bodily formed one other. Lengthy earlier than manufacturing on the live-action Moana reboot started, Johnson underwent a radical transformation for A24’s biopic The Smashing Machine. And, because it seems, lots of that work caught, impacting his return as Maui in a means I hadn’t realized.
Whereas he could also be heading again to the seashore for the upcoming Disney live-action film, Johnson introduced greater than allure and demigod tattoos this time round. In a brand new interview with Selection, the Quick and Livid alum opened up in regards to the toll Benny Safdie’s acclaimed 2025 film launch took on him—emotionally and bodily. After bulking as much as painting real-life fighter Mark Kerr, Johnson mentioned he had simply two weeks earlier than rolling straight into Moana. He defined:
However it’s not simply gaining weight. It’s placing on a top quality of muscle that has fast-twitch capability. He’s a wrestler. It’s not about bodybuilding. I’ve by no means finished a lot lure and neck work in my life. Previous-school wrestlers with no necks? That’s what I needed to do. And I held that weight for 3 and a half months. Then, two weeks later, I needed to roll into ‘Moana.’ So it was Mark Kerr and Maui. Massive dudes.
For The Rock, the transformation wasn’t nearly dimension, however pace and authenticity to the character. For The Smashing Machine, he educated like a wrestler, not a bodybuilder, to reflect Kerr’s explosive energy. Nonetheless, that aesthetic overlaps with Maui’s larger-than-life persona, but the intention behind it was fully completely different. Smashing Machine demanded bodily brutality and emotional vulnerability. Then again, Moana demanded a Disney-level mixture of charisma and presence. One way or the other, the Mummy Returns veteran needed to carry each.
Johnson appears to be like a bit completely different now, although. Followers who’ve adopted the Black Adam star’s current pink carpet appearances might have seen one other transformation—he’s considerably leaner now, dropping weight for a really completely different type of function. Per Individuals‘s reporting from TIFF, Johnson is reuniting with Safdie after The Smashing Machine, however this time for one thing completely sudden. He defined to a crowd at TIFF:
We’re gonna make a movie referred to as Lizard Music, which relies off of a novel written by Daniel Pinkwater… it’s a very whimsical and eccentric 70-something-year-old man referred to as the Rooster Man. And his greatest good friend is a 70-something-year-old hen… I am so excited as a result of I get an opportunity to hopefully remodel once more like I used to be in a position to do in Smashing Machine. Cannot wait.
From The Smashing Machine to Moana, and now again once more with Safdie for one more daring transformation, Dwayne Johnson’s film profession feels extra thrilling—and extra dynamic—than ever. He’s actually turning a nook as a movie star, and it is clear how a lot he’s poured into these current roles.
The behind-the-scenes bodily transformation presents a glimpse of what to anticipate from the live-action Moana because it approaches its launch amid the 2026 film schedule. Maui received’t simply be a CGI-enhanced spectacle however a bodily grounded presence, thanks largely to the minimal turnaround time between roles. In a means, The Rock is bringing a few of The Smashing Machine’s emotional and bodily weight to the shores of Motunui, and that’s a model of Maui I didn’t see coming (however can’t wait to look at).
Should you’re wanting ahead to imminent Dwayne Johnson motion pictures, you’re gonna need to mark your calendars as The Smashing Machine hits theaters on October 3. Additionally, the live-action model of Moana might be launched on July 10, 2026.