According to MSN, the live-action Moana adaptation has dropped its first official look at Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui — and the internet has opinions.
The Casting Conversation Is Wide Open
Johnson stepping back into the role he originated in the 2016 animated film was never really a surprise — he's been publicly enthusiastic about the project for years. But one confirmed casting doesn't make a movie, and Moana has a rich ensemble that still needs to come together. Who plays the fearless, ocean-chosen Moana herself? What about the scheming giant crab Tamatoa, the warm Chief Tui, or the gentle spirit of Gramma Tala? These are the roles that will define whether this adaptation soars or sinks, and fans are already deep in the debate.
There's also a legitimate question worth asking: was Johnson always the obvious choice for Maui, or did fans have other ideas? The demigod is a physically imposing, charismatic trickster figure — a role that demands both presence and charm. It's a short list of people who could pull that off, but it's not a list of one.
What myCast Fans Are Already Saying
The myCast community has been building out their dream casts across multiple Moana stories, and the picks are genuinely fascinating. Over on the Moana fan cast story — the most active of the bunch with 14 total votes across 8 roles — fans have made some bold calls. The most-voted pick in that story isn't even for Maui or Moana: Maia Kealoha has racked up 4 votes for Toddler Moana, which makes a lot of sense given her breakout work in The Fabelmans. For the full-grown Maui role, fans there tapped Cooper Andrews with 3 votes — a genuinely intriguing choice that would have taken the character in a very different direction than Johnson.
Over on the second Moana fan cast story, which covers 15 roles, Nicole Scherzinger appears as a fan pick for Sina, Moana's mother — and she shows up in both active stories, suggesting she's something of a fan consensus for that role. Leilani Jones gets the nod for Gramma Tala in that story, a pick that would bring real theatrical gravitas to one of the animated film's most beloved characters. Meanwhile, pulls 2 votes for Maui — because apparently when fans want a massive, charismatic Polynesian demigod and The Rock isn't on the table, they go straight to Aquaman. Honestly, fair.