Dwayne Johnson‘s Maui wig in Moana has sparked mixed reactions online. The director of the live-action adaptation defended Johnson’s wig, describing it as “great” in a recent interview.

What did the live-action Moana director say about Dwayne Johnson’s wig?

The live-action Moana film is set to premiere this weekend, but audiences have already begun voicing their critiques following its early release on Thursday. One notable criticism focuses on Johnson’s Maui wig. In a recent interview with Variety, director Thomas Kail shared his thoughts on the public’s reaction to the hairstyle.

He remarked, “My joke about it was that I mostly saw Dwayne on set, so I didn’t know he was bald. Every time I saw Dwayne, he’s wearing that wig. I was like, ‘Oh, it’s great.’”

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of the wig in portraying Maui as a demigod. He stated, “As the conversation unfolded on the original ‘Moana,’ pre-2016, when the prospect of Maui, who was going to be played by Dwayne, was presented to the advisors on the film without hair, it was immediately flagged because Maui’s power and spirit come from his hair. Maui without hair is not Maui. So we knew Maui had to have it.”

Earlier concept art for Maui, which was based on Johnson’s likeness, was revealed during the animated film’s five-year development process. In this art, Maui was depicted bald with tattoos on his head, face, and neck. The live-action production aimed to recreate this original appearance since Johnson is well-known for being bald; however, cultural advisers raised concerns about this approach.

Moreover, Johnson has acknowledged the memes circulating about his now-famous hairstyle online. His response to a TikToker’s post criticizing him for promoting “shampoo and conditioner” on his brand’s page became viral. He posed with the same hairstyle and commented, “Hey, sometimes a Demigod’s radiant and ravishing hair needs shampoo/conditioner.” (via People)

The live-action Moana is currently showing in theaters.