Expect to see Te Fiti, Hei Hei, Gramma Tala, and more make their return
Disney’s Moana, the story of a young Polynesian girl who embarks on an ocean adventure to save her island from destruction, is filled with memorable characters and incredible music we couldn’t help but sing for months afterward. An instant classic upon its release in 2016, the animated film honored the rich history of Polynesian culture. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who lent his voice to the character of Maui, alongside fellow star Auli’i Cravalho, has announced that a live-action remake of the movie is in the works.
What do we know?
Johnson announced the news today at a Disney board meeting with a pre-recorded video in which he talks about how much both the island of Hawaii and the movie mean to him. The actor’s Polynesian roots run deep, and he spoke of how his late grandfather inspired the character of Maui.
Per Variety, Johnson said in a statement, “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.”
Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original, is signed on as an Executive Producer, as well as Scott Sheldon of Flynn Picture Co. Jared Bush is also set to return. The screenwriter, known for well-known films like Zootopia and Encanto, as well as the original animated version of Moana, expressed his excitement in a tweet.
Cheehoo!!! So excited that not only is #Moana LIVE-ACTION happening, but that this story, so close to my heart, will be brought to life by an absolute dream team, including dear friends at Disney Animation, my stunt double @therock, EP @auliicravalho – (now my boss!), members of… pic.twitter.com/Se1wdJk86h
— Jared Bush (@thejaredbush) April 3, 2023
You can expect to see a lot of familiar faces in the re-make: Pua, Hei Hei the Chicken, the Ocean, Gramma Tala, Te Fiti, and of course, Maui. Not much else is known at this point, but we’re already saying “thank you.”
