Main Character of Thursday, 9 July 2026

Dwayne Johnson is an actor and former professional wrestler known for his work across action films and entertainment. He reprised his voice role from the original 2016 animated film in Disney's new live-action remake of Moana, released on 11 July 2026, alongside young co-star Catherine Laga'aia.

The film's release brought Johnson into sharp focus on 8–9 July 2026, though largely for critical reasons. Reviews across major publications proved unfavourable, with The Guardian calling the remake "competent but basically pointless and unexciting" and describing Johnson's performance as being "on autopilot." The Independent reported that Johnson received "career-worst reviews," with particular attention drawn to what critics described as his "fright wig" and a "terrible wig." Multiple outlets highlighted the prosthetic hairpiece as a focal point of meme-making and critical commentary, with one reviewer comparing the film's overall aesthetic to "a liminal ChatGPT hallucination."

Beyond the Moana reviews, Johnson's profile remained active during this period. In early July, announcements emerged regarding his next film projects, including a role in "Free Byrd" from Artists Equity with director Greg Kwedar, signalling his continued involvement in upcoming productions despite the critical reception of the live-action remake.