Dwayne Johnson has revealed that wearing a 40-pound prosthetic bodysuit to play Maui in Disney's live-action Moana was ultimately about respecting the fans who have embraced the character for nearly a decade.

The actor, who first voiced the beloved demigod in Disney's 2016 animated hit and later returned for its sequel, recently opened up about the physical transformation required for the upcoming adaptation. His comments offered fresh insight into one of the movie's most talked-about creative decisions.

As it turns out, the choice had less to do with practicality and more to do with preserving the integrity of a character millions of viewers already know and love.

Dwayne Johnson explained that the decision to wear a prosthetic bodysuit stemmed from a desire to ensure Maui looked exactly as audiences remembered him. The actor had moved directly from filming The Smashing Machine, in which he portrayed UFC fighter Mark Kerr, to Moana, leaving little time to physically transform for the role.

"We are the keepers of integrity, but also the fans are keepers of integrity, and if I stepped on set looking like how I looked, they would have had a complete organ rejection," Johnson told E! News.

The actor explained while talking to E! News that while there was discussion about using his natural physique, the difference between his appearance and Maui's iconic look would have been too significant to ignore. He noted that the character's larger-than-life presence is such a defining part of Maui's identity that some level of visual enhancement ultimately felt necessary for the adaptation.

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Instead, the production collaborated with Oscar-winning makeup artist Joel Harlow to create a full prosthetic bodysuit that closely resembled Maui's animated design. Johnson also noted that the practical approach benefited the visual effects team, particularly when bringing the character's living tattoos to life on screen.

While the prosthetics helped preserve Maui's signature appearance, wearing them was far from easy. Dwayne Johnson revealed that the suit weighed roughly 40 pounds, adding another physical challenge to an already demanding production.

"The first time they saw me as Maui, they were like, 'Oh,'" Johnson told E! News while recalling his children's reaction to the transformation. The actor joked that the dramatic hairstyle proved just as surprising as the suit itself, describing Maui's locks as "long, beautiful, luscious."

Despite the challenges, Johnson said the effort was worth it if it helped audiences connect with the live-action version of the beloved Disney character. With Moana set to arrive in theaters on July 10, fans will soon get to see the results of the transformation for themselves.

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Where do you stand on live-action remakes: should they faithfully recreate beloved characters, or take bigger creative risks? Let us know in the comments.