Disney almost didn't use Dwayne Johnson at all.
The plan, per reporting from the Wall Street Journal: cast Johnson's cousin and longtime stunt double Tanoai Reed to do the physical work, then hire AI company Metaphysic to swap Johnson's face onto the footage. Johnson was reportedly on board. They spent 18 months working out the details.
The deal died in lawyers' offices. Disney's legal team couldn't resolve who would own the resulting footage, and they weren't willing to cloud the title on a $250 million film over an unresolved IP question. Johnson ended up showing up in person.
Catherine Laga'aia plays Moana. She's 19, from Sydney, and beat out 32,000 people in an open worldwide casting call. This is her first feature film. People on Backlot are watching it this month.
In theaters now.
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