Disney Scraps A.I. Plan for Dwayne Johnson's Moana Remake Role

According to a recent report, Disney had been exploring the use of A.I. technology in the upcoming live-action remake of the animated film Moana. The plan was to apply A.I. deepfake technology to the performance of Dwayne Johnson's cousin, Tanoai Reed, to make him appear as Dwayne Johnson's character, Maui.

However, Disney has since moved away from this idea, and the A.I.-generated Maui will not be seen in the live-action Moana. The decision to abandon the A.I. plan was not due to technical limitations, but rather a result of logistical details and legal complications regarding the deployment and security concerns of the technology.

Additionally, there were concerns that if A.I. generated part of the film, Disney might not be able to claim complete ownership of the movie. This is an understandable concern, as the company has recently filed a major lawsuit against an A.I. company, Midjourney, for alleged copyright infringement.

While A.I. was not used in the case of Moana, it seems likely that Disney will continue to explore the use of this technology in future productions. The company is navigating a delicate balance, recognizing the potential benefits of A.I. while also being cautious about the legal and ownership implications. As the industry continues to grapple with the role of A.I. in filmmaking, Disney's decision to forgo the A.I. Maui serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities involved.