Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson surprised attendees of D23 with an appearance to reveal the latest trailer for Disney’s Moana 2 animated film. The ‘Final Boss’ of WWE was at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and danced with others on stage.

Dwayne Johnson takes the stage as #Moana2 is introduced at the #D23 Entertainment Showcase pic.twitter.com/u4MnqimRKc

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 10, 2024

After the performance by Johnson, fans saw the newest trailer for Moana 2 which was later shared online. Johnson, as Maui, appears half way during the trailer and delivers quips amid clips of action scenes from the film.

Moana 2 follows on from 2016’s Moana and sees Johnson return as the voice of Maui, a legendary demigod who works alongside Moana (Auli?i Cravalho) to recover a missing relic that she believes will save the people of her island. Much like its predecessor, Moana 2 takes inspiration from Polynesian myths. 

Another Moana Project

Moana 2 won’t be Johnson’s only project related to the popular Disney franchise, as he will also be starring in a live-action remake of the first film. Johnson will reprise his role as Maui, hardly a surprise given that like the demigod, he too is an impressive specimen. Catherine Laga‘aia will portray Moana herself, replacing Cravalho in the role. The live-action Moana will follow a trend of other animated projects brought to life by Disney including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Cruella. Live-action adaptations of Lilo & Stitch and Hercules are also in the works.

Johnson’s Other D23 Announcement

Dwayne Johnson wasn’t at D23 just to promote Moana 2. During the event, it was confirmed that a Monster Jam project is in the works and that The Rock will be involved.

MONSTER JAM PROJECT HAS JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE ROCK IS THE LEAD AND DEVELOPING THIS ? #D23 pic.twitter.com/cnjm1HFI2C

— Bart (DD Born Again Era) (@Bart2389) August 10, 2024

During the conference, Johnson shared his love for motorsports and monster trucks and said he wants to create something that is “immersive and fun.” A logo was shown for the projects well as some of the trucks that’ll make up Monster Jam.

Wrestling fans and moviegoers alike have caught their first glimpse of Disney’s Moana 2 starring WWE’s very own Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. 

Moana 2 follows on from 2016’s Moana and sees Johnson return as the voice of Maui, a legendary demigod who works alongside Moana (Auli?i Cravalho) to recover a missing relic that she believes will save the people of her island. Much like its predecessor, Moana 2 takes inspiration from Polynesian myths. 

This week, a teaser trailer for Moana 2 was shared online. Maui appears in the closing moments of the trailer and shows off his shapeshifting abilities, transforming from a shark into a bird and eventually into his human guise. The demigod converses with Moana and teases eating her pet pig and the returning chicken HeiHei (Alan Tudyk.)

The Rock’s Very Different Project

Moana 2 isn’t the only big project in the works for Dwayne Johnson. The Final Boss of WWE is also currently working on The Smashing Machine which will tell the tale of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Johnson will play Kerr in the film which will delve into his career as well as his personal struggles with substances. 

The Smashing Machine is certainly a change from the norm for Johnson, who typically sticks to family-friendly films (Moana, The Jungle Cruise) or high-end blockbusters like The Fast and the Furious franchise. Currently, there’s no confirmed date for when fans can expect The Smashing Machine in cinemas. 

Disney and WWE have made a streaming deal that will see the entertainment giant carry the WWE Network in Indonesia, per Sports Business Journal.

The deal will make all the WWE Network content available on Disney+ Hotstar streaming service including this year’s Royal Rumble PPV from Sunday, January 30.

The subscribers will be able to see all the WWE shows in the Indonesian language, and English. Though this isn’t the first deal between the two organizations.

WWE previously signed a deal with Fox in Latin America. The California-based company inherited this deal when they took over Fox Entertainment assets in 2019.

The wrestling promotion also has a deal with Hulu for the streaming rights of Raw and SmackDown. Disney is the majority owner of Hulu. Though this deal is set to expire later this year.

The recent spree of WWE releases has made many believe that Vince McMahon might be gearing up for a sale of the company. Disney’s name has been thrown around as potential buyers for the promotion numerous times.

Although president Nick Khan recently claimed that they aren’t actively looking to sell the company despite interest from parties. You can check out his comments on the matter at this link.

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