Fans have known Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for one unmistakable look: a shaved head. Hence, when the actor donned a long, curly wig to transform into Maui for the live-action “Moana” movie, the internet wasted no time turning his new look into memes. Rather than taking offense, The Rock admitted he found the jokes hilarious and laughed along with fans.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is once again stepping into the role of the demigod Maui for the live-action adaptation of “Moana.” The former wrestler previously voiced the larger-than-life character in 2016’s animated film of the same title, helping turn Maui into one of Disney’s most memorable figures. Nearly a decade later, he is bringing the character to life.
While The Rock’s physique closely matches Maui’s, the character’s long, flowing hair is a stark contrast to the actor’s signature shaved head. The film’s trailer, which dropped in March, gave birth to many memes mocking The Rock’s curly wig.
Despite the backlash, The Rock found the comments hilarious, as he said during an interview at the premiere of “Moana.”
“I laughed so f-cking hard when we first came out, and people saw me in a wig for the first time. They memed me. The internet did the internet. It was very, very funny, but I was like, ‘Okay, it’s all right, just see the movie,’” he told a reporter from Variety.
Fans had mixed reactions upon seeing Johnson with hair, with many commenting that the hair clearly looked like a wig and that, given the big budget, the production could have done a better job. Some compared The Rock’s Maui look to John Cena’s character Kenmaid in “Barbie,” asking users which former wrestler wore their wig better.
“He’s been bald for so long at this point, that it’s like seeing Squidward with hair,” one commented. “Maui genuinely looks like an SNL skit,” another added.
Parody singer Weird Al Yankovic, who has long, curly locks himself, weighed in on the online buzz and posted a photo of Johnson as Maui on Instagram, jokingly writing, “We’ve told all the casting agents that the Weird Al biopic sequel is currently on hold, but they just keep sending in headshots.”
The Rock Has Played A Few Characters With Hair
Admittedly, The Rock said it was “jarring” for his kids to see him portray Maui due to his hair. The actor said they were so used to him being bald that it was a big transformation to see him have long, curly tresses, he told E! News.
While many fans are used to seeing The Rock sans hair, he previously appeared on the silver screen with different hairstyles.
In the “The Mummy” spinoff “The Scorpion King,” released in 2002, The Rock played Mathayus and had a long, dark mane. In the 2014 action fantasy film “Hercules,” he played the titular character and sported wavy, shoulder-length hair. The Rock portrayed UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the 2025 biopic “The Smashing Machine,” in which he had closely cropped hair.
The Actor Has A Haircare Line
Johnson launched his men’s grooming line, Papatui, in 2024, to break the stereotype against “tough guys” and encourage men to openly talk about personal care. Some of his products include facial wash, moisturizers, deodorants, soaps, and hair care.
In early June, TikToker Katy Napier called out Johnson for selling hair care products when he doesn’t have hair. “Don’t give up on your dreams. The Rock is selling shampoo and conditioner, and he’s bald,” she said. The video went viral, and the actor was one of the people who saw it.
The Rock stitched Napier’s video with his own clip, smiling at the camera while wearing his Maui costume and wig. “Ok this made me belly laugh… HARD. And hey, sometimes a Demigod’s radiant and ravishing hair needs shampoo/conditioner. You’re Welcooooome,” he wrote in the caption, adding that he had a “big a-s gift” he’s sending Napier.
The Rock Attended The ‘Moana’ Premiere With His Family
Johnson brought his family to the July 7 premiere of “Moana” in Los Angeles and posed for photos on the blue carpet.
He was joined by his mother, Ata; his wife, Lauren Hashian; their two daughters, Jasmine and Tiana; his ex-wife, Dany Garcia, and her husband, Dave Rienzi; and his daughter with Dany, Simone.
In an interview, The Rock shared how special the live-action film was to him. “Everything carries a different weight. Real flesh and blood, human beings, soul behind the eyes, like, and then bits as real as us sitting here. It was the opportunity for us to, I think, showcase our culture in a real way,” he said.
“Moana” will be released in theaters on July 10.
