Dwayne Johnson’s Moana Live Action Remake: What We Know So Far
Dwayne Johnson is one of those stars who have switched careers to try something new and interesting. The WWE wrestler came into the media spotlight with the Scorpion King in the 2001 release The Mummy Returns. The Fast and Furious actor is the voice behind one of the prominent characters from 2016 released Disney animated movie Moana.
Dwayne Johnson
The story of Dwayne Johnson’s Moana revolved around the princess of the titular name who sets off on a voyage in the ocean around her island, to save it. On her oceanic voyage, she meets magical creatures and the most prominent one is Maui, a demigod who is a trickster as she makes an attempt to restore the heart of Te Fiti. Currently, the news on the live-action remake of Moana became viral after Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle announced it on Twitter.
Dwayne Johnson Is Coming Up With The Live Action, Remake Of Moana
The wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson is the co-producer alongside Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia for the upcoming live-action remake of Moana. In a video clip shared by the actor, from the shores of Hawaii, the actor mentioned that the project is very close to his heart. Dwayne Johnson said-
“I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. 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.”
Moana’s voice-over was done by Auli’I Cravalho. On Reflecting back on the impact of Moana, she added,
“She has had such a profound impact on how we think of Disney princesses. Moana’s strength and perseverance are inspiring — to audiences around the world, to me, and to everyone who helped bring her to life. I’m looking forward to sharing her story in a whole new way.”
However, Auli’I Cravalho would not be associated with the live-action remake of the Disney movie. She clarified the reason why she would no longer want to play the character. She would even help to find a replacement for the voice artist of Moana. She said-
“When I was cast as Moana at 14, it wonderfully changed my life and started my career. In this live-action retelling, I will not be reprising the role. I believe it is absolutely vital that casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell. So, as an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit, and emotional strength.”
Auli’I Cravalho was just a high school student when she was selected to voice over Moana. Over the years, she has gained fame in the movie industry.
Everything You Need To Know About Dwayne Johnson’s Live-Action Remake Of Moana
The recent trend of live-action remakes of animated movies began with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland in 2010, but Disney was into this type of moviemaking strategy before Tim Burton. The live-action remake of One Hundred and One Dalmatians which dates back to 1996 is one of the oldest examples. Recently, the live-action remake of Dwayne Johnson’s Moana was announced in April 2023.
From the current developments on the Disney project, it is quite evident that the production house is not wasting its time. It has been assumed that the live-action remake would hit the theatres early in comparison to other projects of Disney. The live-action remake of Moana has multiple addition and subtraction on the board. As the movie would be directed by Thomas Kail. He has also directed both on and off-Broadway stage shows of Hamilton and In The Heights. Maui is played by the Black Adam star Dwayne Johnson.
JUST ANNOUNCED: From Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho, a live-action reimagining of Disney’s Moana is in the works! pic.twitter.com/4rQXLSJ5Zn
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) April 3, 2023
The WWE star is very close to the Disney project as the animated version of Maui is inspired by his grandfather legendary High Chief, and wrestler Peter Maivia.
As mentioned by Dwayne Johnson, the remake would see a few similar faces like Grandma Tala, Heihei, and the protagonist Moana. However, some actors have aged out with respect to doing the voice-over of the characters, But the Jungle Cruise actor would be the voice behind Maui. The characters like Heihei the rooster voiced by Alan Tudyk and Tamatoa voiced by Jemaine Clement – both would have to be CGI creations. Tudyk and Clement would be new additions to the cast. Like the original animated version, the live-action remake would also take place majorly on the water.
The live-action remake of Moana is scheduled for June 27, 2025 release.
Source: Screenrant
