As published on Blog do Amaury Jr./Splash UOL

Few Hollywood stars understand the art of a promotional tour quite like Dwayne Johnson. And during his whirlwind visit to Brazil to promote Disney’s live-action Moana, the actor known worldwide as The Rock did exactly what one expects from one of the planet’s biggest celebrities: he turned a few hours on the ground into a cultural event.

Johnson arrived in Rio de Janeiro this week as part of the film’s global promotional tour ahead of its July 10 theatrical release. In the span of just a few hours, he met with journalists, participated in press events, discussed football, family, ancestry, and even found time for one of his signature travel rituals: working out. The actor was spotted training at a Rio gym, quickly becoming a trending topic on Brazilian social media.

But beyond the spectacle of celebrity promotion, his visit revealed something more interesting: Moana may have become the most personal project of Dwayne Johnson’s career.

During the Rio press conference, the actor repeatedly emphasized that he does not see Moana as merely a film.

“Moana is more than a movie. It’s culture. It’s life. And for me, it’s my grandfather.”

The statement summarizes a relationship that spans more than a decade. The character of Maui was originally inspired by Johnson’s maternal grandfather, the legendary wrestler and Samoan High Chief Peter Maivia. According to Johnson, physically portraying Maui in the live-action adaptation allowed him to do something the animated film never fully could: embody his family’s memory and Polynesian ancestry.

“My grandfather was strong,” he said, “but he was also a man who was never afraid to cry in front of my mother or in front of me.”

The theme of male vulnerability emerged repeatedly throughout the conversation. For Johnson, the greatest discovery in playing live-action Maui was realizing that the character’s true strength does not come from his magical hook or heroic feats, but from his willingness to embrace vulnerability.

“Maui’s superpower is when he finally opens up,” he explained.

The actor admitted that the role also forced him to reflect on his own life. An only child, he acknowledged that he spent much of his life suppressing emotions and only later came to understand the importance of vulnerability and empathy. “You can be honest and still be kind,” he said.

Another recurring theme was identity and belonging. According to Johnson, both Maui and Moana embark on journeys that ultimately become searches for their authentic selves. “We all have a voice inside us,” he said. “We have to learn how to listen to it.”

For Johnson, the central message of Moana remains unchanged nearly a decade later: the courage to try. “The worst thing that can happen is that it doesn’t work out. But maybe it works. Or maybe it leads you somewhere even better.”

His affection for Brazil also emerged during a lighter moment, when the conversation turned to the FIFA World Cup. Asked who would win the tournament, Johnson didn’t hesitate. “Brazil, of course.” He then pointed out that regardless of what happens in 2026, Brazil remains the greatest World Cup nation in history. “Nobody is ever going to catch Brazil,” he said, earning applause from the Brazilian journalists in attendance.

The visit also served as the official introduction of Catherine Laga’aia, the young Australian actress of Samoan heritage who takes on the role of Moana. Johnson spoke emotionally about watching the then-17-year-old actress carry one of Disney’s most iconic characters. “That takes courage,” he said.

As the father of three daughters, Johnson admitted that he found himself viewing Catherine almost as he would one of his own children, proudly watching her grow into the role.

There was another deeply personal revelation as well: Johnson’s mother and daughters appear briefly in the film. According to him, he specifically asked director Thomas Kail to include them because he wanted to preserve a moment shared by multiple generations of his family.

“Our loved ones won’t always be here,” he explained.

But perhaps the biggest headline from Johnson’s brief stop in Brazil came almost accidentally.

Asked why he believes Moana should continue to be passed on to new generations, the actor publicly confirmed something Disney has yet to officially announce: “Yes, there have already been conversations about Moana 3“

Before revealing that, however, Johnson once again emphasized his admiration for Disney’s commitment to Polynesian representation, praising the studio’s use of linguists, historians, and cultural advisers throughout the process.

Ultimately, Dwayne Johnson’s brief visit to Brazil served as a reminder of something increasingly rare in modern Hollywood: sometimes a franchise becomes more than intellectual property.

For Dwayne Johnson, Moana is identity, memory, ancestry, and family. And perhaps that is why, ten years later, he still talks about Maui as if he were talking about himself.