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Disney Scraps AI Deepfake of Dwayne Johnson Amid Concerns

8/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a bold move, Disney aimed to harness AI to create a deepfake of Dwayne Johnson for the live-action Moana, with his cousin Tanoai Reed stepping in as a body double. However, after 18 months of development, worries about data security and ownership forced the studio to abandon the project, along with similar plans for Tron: Ares, amid fears of public backlash.

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Story summary

In a bold move, Disney aimed to harness AI to create a deepfake of Dwayne Johnson for the live-action Moana, with his cousin Tanoai Reed stepping in as a body double. However, after 18 months of development, worries about data security and ownership forced the studio to abandon the project, along with similar plans for Tron: Ares, amid fears of public backlash.