Auli’i Cravalho, known for her role in Moana, recently shared her experience working alongside Dwayne Johnson. Speaking with IMDb at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, the 23-year-old actress expressed her excitement about reuniting with Johnson, 52, and complimented his vocal performances while giving a sneak peek of Moana 2.
“It’s so much fun working with him. I love him. He’s truly a larger-than-life presence, both on and off-screen,” Cravalho said when asked about their collaboration. She added with a laugh, “He smells good, he’s very kind, and he’s fantastic at what he does. I always look forward to spending time with him.”
Cravalho admires Johnson’s commitment to his vocals in Moana 2, saying he approaches it like a ‘professional singer
She also shared a funny moment from their recent behind-the-scenes work, saying, “Every time I messed up a line, he’d clear his throat. It was hard to keep a straight face knowing he was as on top of my lines as I was supposed to be. He’s a big prankster.”
Though Johnson is not a professionally trained singer, his performance of Maui’s song “You’re Welcome” from the 2016 Moana movie became a hit. Cravalho explained the effort he puts into his singing, saying, “He does all his own vocals. He’s been rehearsing and really treating this like a professional singer.
Sometimes he gets music and lyrics and says, ‘I need time to absorb this, to really understand it,’ according to our music supervisor, Kurt.” In the upcoming sequel, Moana and Maui will once again set sail from Motunui in an adventure that takes them into dangerous, uncharted waters in Oceania, three years after the original story.
Alongside the animated film, a live-action adaptation of Moana is in the works, set for release in 2026. Cravalho serves as executive producer, while young actress Catherine Laga’aia will play the role of Moana opposite Johnson. “She’s a stunning young woman of color, and she’s incredibly courageous to be out there with Dwayne Johnson,” Cravalho told PEOPLE in July. “I’m excited to see her shine.”
Moana 2 will hit theaters on November 27.
