Auli’i Cravalho will not be reprising her role in the live-action ‘Moana’

Auli’i Cravalho has finally updated fans that she will not be reprising her role as Moana in the upcoming ‘Moana’ live-action movie.

Cravalho shared a video on Instagram voicing her thoughts on the matter

Cravalho is excited to “pass the baton” to the next Pacific Islander actress

“I’m sure you’ve heard by now, live-action Moana is in the works and you all have been waiting very patiently for updates. So I’ve written a few things down,” she began in the video.

“When I was cast as Moana at 14, it wonderfully changed my life and started my career,” said Cravalho, now 22. ‘Moana’ was Cravalho’s breakout role, where she voiced the titular character.

“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,” she continued.

“I can’t wait to find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength,” she added, as she will be executive producing the movie with Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia producing.

“I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next woman of Pacific Island descent to honor our incredible Pacific peoples, cultures and communities that help inspire her story, and I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representation to come. Mahalo.”

In April, Johnson announced the live-action movie on Disney’s YouTube channel. Johnson voiced the demigod Maui in the 2016 animated movie.

“I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of ‘Moana’ to the live-action big screen,” he said.

“This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength,” Johnson previously lived in Honolulu with his family as a teen.

“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,” he added.

Awards won by ‘Moana’ cast and crew

‘Moana’ was nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the Academy Awards in 2016.

Lin Manuel Miranda won Best Song Written For Visual Media at the 2018 Grammy Awards for the song ‘How Far I’ll Go’. Johnson won Choice Fantasy Movie Actor at the Teen Choice Awards in 2017, while Cravalho won the Choice Breakout Movie Star award.