Dwayne Johnson, a 50-year-old actor, passionately addressed the 2023 Disney Annual Meeting of Shareholders Webcast on Monday to reveal an upcoming project that is close to his heart. He expressed his excitement on Twitter, stating, “I am humbled to announce that we will be bringing the beautiful story of #MOANA to life on the big screen! #MAUI, who had a profound impact on my life (miss you, grandpa), will be honored as we partner with @DisneyStudios to share our story through the medium of music and dance, which truly represents the essence of our Polynesian culture.” Alongside his announcement, the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle star also shared pictures of himself with his daughters, Jasmine (age seven) and Tiana (age four). During the pre-recorded message, Dwayne Johnson, dressed in jeans and a white short-sleeved button-down shirt, was located on the beaches of Maui. His daughters, wearing sundresses reminiscent of Moana’s attire, accompanied him.
Maui: Dwayne Johnson, at the age of 50, excitedly spoke at the webcast of the 2023 Disney Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Monday, sharing news about a project that holds a special place in his heart.
After the meeting, he took to Twitter, expressing his humility by announcing the exciting news of bringing #MOANA’s captivating story to life on the big screen in a live-action adaptation. Johnson, who shares another daughter, Simone Johnson, 21, with his ex-wife Dany Garcia, shared more details about the upcoming movie in a pre-recorded message with his daughters. In the heartfelt segment, Johnson talked about the inspiration he draws from his late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia.
During the pre-recorded segment with his daughters, Johnson elaborated further, stating, “We are thrilled and filled with joy to announce that we are working on a live-action reimagining of Moana. Moana herself, Grandma Tala, the music, the dance, Te Fiti, Pua the pig, the village, the beautiful powerful ocean, and, of course, Maui will all be part of this incredible journey. And guess what? Heihei the chicken will be there too, but joking aside, Maui will have a prominent role as well.”
Johnson also expressed gratitude towards the brilliant team at Disney Animation, his partners in this project, as they found immense inspiration for Maui in his late grandfather’s presence and power as the legendary High Chief Peter Maivia. Johnson fondly remembered his grandfather’s energetic persona, tattoos, hair, and body, playfully singing with his daughters, “When you’re staring at a demigod.” He jokingly apologized for getting caught up in the moment.
“For me, this story holds deep meaning because, in a way, when I bring Maui to life, I am embodying the spirit of my grandfather,” Johnson shared emotionally. He acknowledged that it is still early in the process and that there is much more work to be done. However, he wanted to kick off this journey in the right way. Johnson brought out a special item, his staff, asking his daughters if they wanted to present it to him, complementing them on their strength and expressing his gratitude.
With the sun shining as if on cue, Johnson highlighted the significance of this project and how it resonates with him personally. This announcement marks the beginning of an exciting adventure, honoring his late grandfather and sharing the enchanting story of Moana with audiences in a fresh and captivating live-action format.
Source of Motivation: The renowned star of the action-packed movie franchise, Fast and Furious, recently divulged further details about the highly anticipated film in a heartfelt, pre-recorded message for his beloved daughters. During this message, he also expressed the immense inspiration he draws from his late grandfather, the esteemed High Chief Peter Maivia.
Johnson’s two young daughters, Jasmine, aged seven, and Tiana, aged four, happily joined their father on the sandy beach when he made an announcement. With a smile, he declared, “We’re going to have some fun in the ocean! Look at the love I have for you both. Am I like Daddy Maui? No! But guess what, my little darlings? How about we get some ice cream? Yes!” With playful enthusiasm, he embraced the role of Maui, the beloved character from the movie, “Moana.”
Following in her father’s footsteps, Johnson’s oldest daughter, Ava Raine, has pursued a career in professional wrestling. Under her ring name, she has ventured into the world of WWE. On a momentous Saturday, she achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first fourth-generation wrestler in WWE history. Her debut took place at NXT Stand and Deliver, where she participated in an exhilarating eight-person tag-team match. Her team, The Schism, faced off against their opponents from Chase University. It was a thrilling event that marked the beginning of Ava’s wrestling journey at the age of 21.
Johnson’s oldest daughter, Simone, had her WWE debut over the weekend, following in her family’s footsteps. The match lasted just over 11 minutes, and while Simone made a few attempts at getting involved, her team ultimately suffered a loss against Chase University. Simone’s connection to the wrestling business can be traced back to her grandfather, Rocky Johnson, and her great grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia. Despite facing setbacks, including a serious knee injury, Simone joined WWE in February 2020 and is progressing well at their training base in Orlando, Florida. The company has high expectations for her future.
