Will The Rock's Hair Ruin 'Moana'? Trailer Sparks Mockery, But Disney Won't Budge

The release of the trailer for the live-action version of 'Moana', starring Dwayne Johnson, sparked debate on social media, primarily due to the appearance of the character Maui, played by the actor. The criticism focused on the curly wig that Johnson wore, which led to mockery and negative comments from users. Despite the criticism, Disney has confirmed that it does not plan to make creative changes to the film. The trailer accumulated 132 million views in its first 24 hours on platforms like YouTube, surpassing other releases like 'Mufasa' and 'Barbie'.

Johnson's transformation for the role was extensive, requiring two and a half hours a day in makeup for the wig and a 40-pound prosthetic bodysuit. Johnson explained that the wig was crucial to maintaining the integrity of the animated character, who was proud of his hair. The film crew considered using digital effects for Maui's hair but ultimately opted for the wig to offer the best experience for the audience.

Social media criticism often does not reflect the general enthusiasm for a project, as demonstrated by the case of 'Moana'. Internal sources suggest that less than 5% of mentions on social media were negative in relation to Maui's hair and the overall appearance of the film. The film was shot in Oahu, Hawaii, and at Trillith Studios in Atlanta. The visual effects team, led by Bill Westenhofer, had to digitally blend the images captured on camera to match the visual effects, a common process in films with special effects. The cinematographer, Óscar Faura, also participated in this process.

The film has faced similar criticism in the past, such as 'Wicked' and 'Sonic the Hedgehog', but in the case of 'Sonic', the filmmakers made changes to the character's design in response to public feedback. In the case of 'Moana', Disney seems to be relying on the commercial success of the film, despite the criticism.

Disney has faced similar criticism in the past for its live-action adaptations. The criticisms often focus on the excessive use of CGI or the desaturated appearance of the films. The production company has had to defend the aesthetics of its films on several occasions. The director of 'Wicked', Jon M. Chu, defended the 'dark' images of the film, explaining that it was not a cheerful story and that the effects were not yet finished. In the case of 'Sonic the Hedgehog', negative public feedback led the filmmakers to redesign the character, which ultimately resulted in a box office success.

Disney seems to be relying on the commercial success of 'Moana', despite the criticism. If the film matches or surpasses the box office results of the animated films, Disney will have reason to celebrate.