Disney Won't Give Moana a Sonic the Hedgehog-Style Revamp, Despite Online Ridicule for The Rock's Live-Action Wig

Disney volition reportedly basal steadfast implicit the look of its live-action Moana remake, contempt online ridicule of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's wig.

Moana's latest trailer revealed Johnson's quality Maui, arsenic good arsenic the 40-pound bodysuit and agelong acheronian wig helium wears to embody the character. The online absorption to his quality has not been kind, however, with disapproval of however unusual the typically-bald histrion appears levied by galore fans — and adjacent Weird Al Yankovic, who suggested the erstwhile wrestler was trying to look similar him.

Aside from Maui's appearance, the trailer was besides slammed for its dense usage of CGI, and its desaturated colors erstwhile compared to Moana's beloved archetypal animation. Fans person variously compared the movie to looking similar AI "slop" and a "T-Mobile commercial," and according to a caller Variety report, Disney is alert of the backlash. Still, it's understood that Disney is not readying immoderate signifier of large Sonic the Hedgehog-style originative pivot with conscionable 4 months to spell until Moana's release.

Variety's study mentions that instrumentality complaints implicit the look of Disney live-action remakes are thing new, and that post-production enactment connected Moana remains ongoing, with coloring and ocular effects inactive a enactment successful progress. But Johnson's wig sounds similar it'll beryllium staying — adjacent if different solutions to the Rock's hairsbreadth concern were antecedently discussed.

"The wig was precise important and important because, successful holding onto the integrity of the quality from the animated version, Maui was precise arrogant of his hair," Johnson told Entertainment Weekly, revealing that the thought of making his locks afloat CGI had been discussed.

"There were a fistful of iterations that we were looking to use precise early," helium continued. "What is the astir cost-effective? What's the astir time-effective? But ultimately, we person to spell backmost to the main thing, which is, what's the champion happening for the movie and the audience's experience?"

Paramount was wide praised by Sonic fans backmost successful 2019 for undertaking a implicit overhaul of its original, creepy Sonic the Hedgehog Movie quality design, which featured the spiky bluish mammal appearing connected the large surface implicit with human-like fingers and teeth. After an tremendous backlash online, the film's manager Jeff Fowler announced that the movie would beryllium changed pursuing instrumentality feedback, thing that besides required a hold to its release. At launch, the movie was past met with affirmative reviews and a beardown container office, and has present spawned galore sequels.

All of the disapproval of Moana aside, however, there's nary proposition this effect volition really interaction the movie's container bureau erstwhile it launches connected July 10. Disney's akin Lilo & Stitch remake made implicit $1 cardinal successful theaters past twelvemonth and volition present get a live-action sequel, portion galore much live-action remakes are besides successful the pipeline, with Tangled up next.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Disney is present processing a live-action Peter Pan spinoff centered connected tiny fairy Tinker Bell, to motorboat connected Disney+. Other upcoming live-action remake projects successful the works see plans for caller versions of Hercules and Bambi, positive a Beauty and the Beast spinoff starring Gaston.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social