Moana's Auli'i Cravalho Dishes on Working with Dwayne Johnson: He's Kind, 'Larger Than Life' and 'Smells Good'

Mar. 15, 2025

Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson on Aug. 9, 2024.Photo:Jesse Grant/Getty

Jesse Grant/Getty

Moana’sAuli’i Cravalhois sharing what it’s like to spend time with costarDwayne Johnson.

While speaking withIMDbrecently at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif., the actress, 23, gushed about working with Johnson, 52, and the actor’s singing abilities while previewingMoana 2.

“It’s a blast. I love that guy. He’s truly larger than life, both on and off the screen," she said, when asked how it felt to reunite with Johnson. “Smells good. He’s very kind. He’s great at his job. I mean, I always look forward to hanging out with him.”

“We just did some behind-the-scenes work, and any time I would mess up a line, he’d [clear his throat ],” she added. “It was harder to maintain my composure knowing that he was as on top of my lines as I was supposed to be on top of my lines. He’s a big jokester.”

Moana and Maui in 2016’s Moana.Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Everett

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Everett

While Johnson is not a trained singer, his character Maui’s signature song fromMoana, “You’re Welcome,” remains one of the 2016 movie’s most popular hits.

“He sings all his own stuff. He’s been in vocal sessions. He’s been rehearsing," Cravalho said of the work Johnson puts into his vocals. “He is now treating this like a true singer. Sometimes he receives music and lyrics, and I heard this from Kurt, our music supervisor, he’s like ‘You know what, I need to sit on this. I need to understand what this means.’ ”

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Both Moana and Maui are set to return to Motunui and the oceans surrounding the island in the sequel, which is set three years after the original.

Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho on Nov. 14, 2016.Amanda Edwards/WireImage

Amanda Edwards/WireImage

In addition to the animated sequel, the firstMoanais also set toreceive a live-action adaptation, currently scheduled for release in 2026. Cravalho is working on that adaptation as an executive producer, while young actress Catherine Laga’aia will portray Moana opposite Johnson in the live-action version of the story.

“She’s a beautiful young woman of color. She’s so brave to be on that canoe with Dwayne Johnson,” Cravalho told PEOPLE of Laga’aia in July. “I cannot wait to see her shine.”

Moana 2is in theaters Nov. 27.

source: people.com