It'll soon be time to board the boat, sail across the sea and restore the heart of Te Fiti – again. That's because a live-action Moana remake is headed our way from Disney, and original stars Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho will be reprising their roles.
The Oscar-nominated 2016 animation features Cravalho as the adventurous Moana who leaves her remote Polynesian island on an epic quest. Johnson voices the brash demi-god Maui who ultimately helps Moana to restore an ancient relic to the god Te Fiti, lest Moana's entire island perish.
“I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of ‘Moana’ to the live-action big screen,” Johnson said in a statement. “This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me.
"I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.”
Humbled to say we’re bringing #MOANA’s beautiful story to the live action big screen!#MAUI changed my life (miss you grandpa) and I’m honored to partner with @DisneyStudios to tell our story thru the realm of music & dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people🪝 pic.twitter.com/CxJFKQewUS
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 3, 2023
The original Moana was Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, and grossed more than $600 million worldwide. It received enthusiastic reviews for its character depth, lush animation and cultural sensitivity, and it sets a high bar for the remake to match.
How far will you go to watch the Moana remake? Let us know @Cineworld. In the meantime, we're anticipating this year's release of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey as Ariel. The movie is released on May 26th. You're welcome!
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