Dwayne Johnson turned the Moana press tour into a memorable moment in Sydney over the weekend, surprising a crowd with a live performance of “You’re Welcome,” the song he voices as the demigod Maui in both the original 2016 animated film and the upcoming live-action remake. The moment was caught on video and quickly spread across social media.
Johnson Performs For Sydney Fans
Johnson reprises his role as Maui in the live-action Moana, which opens in theaters on July 10, 2026. The Sydney stop is one leg of a global press tour that has carried the cast across several continents in the run-up to release, and Johnson has thrown himself into the promotion, taking nearly every chance to connect with international audiences ahead of the premiere. According to Bollywood Hungama, it marked the first time Johnson performed the song live, joined on stage by contemporary Polynesian music group Te Vaka.
“You’re Welcome” was one of the standout songs from the 2016 soundtrack, a comedic showstopper written by Lin-Manuel Miranda that plays up Maui’s enormous ego and equally enormous charm. Hearing Johnson deliver it live to a Sydney crowd is exactly the kind of global moment the Moana story, rooted in Pacific Islander mythology and tradition, tends to create.
Moana Opens July 10
The live-action Moana stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana in her film debut, with Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui. Thomas Kail directs. The film opens in theaters on July 10, 2026, and will be available in IMAX. For more on the film, check out our earlier coverage of the live-action Moana first look clip.
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