How far will Disney go to please Moana fans? Well, it's just been announced that the beloved animated musical is getting a new live-action remake. And to top it all off, one of the main voice actors—Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson—will reprise his role.
Johnson (AKA Maui) shared the exciting news on Instagram this afternoon and wrote a caption that read: “Deeply humbled to announce we’re bringing the beautiful story of MOANA to the live action big screen!”
Johnson continued, “This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace, mana and warrior strength. I wear our culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once in a lifetime opportunity to reunite with MAUI, inspired by the spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. We’re honored to partner with @DisneyStudios to tell our story through the realm of music and dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people.”
The Black Adam star didn't share many details about the live-action remake, including the ensemble cast and premiere date. He did confirm that other characters from the animated original—including Pua, Tala and even Heihei—will be part of this live-action reimagining. Johnson concluded the post with a cheeky Moana reference at the end of his caption, writing, “Much more to come, but until then...What can I saaaaaay except…You’re welcome.” (And we really are thanking you, Dwayne.)
Moana was a major hit for Disney when it arrived in theaters on November 2016. The fantasy film grossed over $600 million at the box office, received rave reviews from critics and earned two Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “How Far I'll Go.” Currently, there is a spinoff series in the works, to be released on Disney+ in 2024.
We couldn't be more excited.
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