Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson addresses the backlash and mixed reception for Disney’s live-action remake of *Moana*, in which he reprises his role as Maui and serves as an executive producer. In comments reported by *People* and covered by multiple outlets, Johnson says early reviews impressed him, but that public reaction later “went another way,” adding that reviews and opinions often change in entertainment.
Johnson also plays down the criticism, saying it is “just the way it goes” and that viewers’ responses vary. He emphasizes the film’s intent to spotlight Polynesian culture, stating that he believes “the culture really stood up.” Reports note that his wife, Lauren Hashian, characterizes the story as rooted in themes of love, family, and resilience. Media coverage also points to audience and critic scores suggesting lukewarm results.
Outlet reports differ mainly in what they stress: the *HuffPost UK* coverage highlights online reactions to visual elements and cites review-aggregator figures, while *Times of India* additionally references the film’s reported global box office performance and Disney leadership messaging about its future on Disney+.
