Arabic version: طلاب متحمسون للقاء المفاجئ مع دواين جونسون

Primary school pupils from St Gregory Primary School in Sudbury experienced an unforgettable surprise during a trip to London. About 50 students were expecting a typical school excursion but instead found themselves at the Moana Experience, an immersive event promoting the upcoming live-action adaptation of the popular 2016 film.

According to BBC News, the highlight of the day came when wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made a surprise appearance. The Years 3 and 4 students were ecstatic to meet the star, who took time to interact with them. “It was awesome [to meet them] and they were losing their minds and going bonkers and going crazy,” Johnson shared with the BBC.

The event at Potters Field Park, located next to the River Thames, was organized by Disney in collaboration with the school’s headteacher, Daniel Woodrow. The connection was made after the pupils created a social media video in January to catch The Rock’s attention, which eventually went viral. Johnson responded with a heartfelt video message, promising to rent out a cinema for the students and their families to watch the new Moana film together.

In his four-minute video, Johnson expressed his excitement about their enthusiasm for the upcoming movie. He also promised to cover the costs for sweets and snacks during the screening. “I heard you guys were super, super pumped and excited to see live-action Moana, so I’m going to find a theatre, rent it out, and you guys are going to see Moana,” he said.

Woodrow described the day as incredible, noting the joy on the children’s faces as they interacted with one of the biggest movie stars in the world. “For the biggest movie star on the planet to spend so much time with the children… that was incredible,” he remarked. The surprise meeting not only delighted the students but also created lasting memories, making the day even more special.