MOVIES
What we know about Dwayne Johnson’s live action ‘Moana’ so far
The Disney animated film is finally getting its live-action feature — but fans may have to wait a while.
Dwayne Johnson has made an announcement to confirm his ‘Moana’ live-action remake is in the works, but speculates it could take three to five years until the work is complete.
Meanwhile, Auli’i Cravalho, who plays Moana in the original film, has announced she will not be reprising her role.
Johnson said that Walt Disney Studios and invested parties are “still very early in the [development] process”, and there is still lots “more work to be done.”
Previous Disney live-action remakes take between three and five years to remake — which means fans might be waiting until 2028 to see the feature film.
Johnson’s original announcement
Johnson, who plays shapeshifting Maui, first mentioned the remake on April 3.
“Deeply humbled to announce we’re bringing the beautiful story of MOANA to the live action big screen!” Johnson wrote on Instagram at the time. “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,” the actor continued. “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.”
Why is Disney remaking ‘Moana’?
Disney has been on a run of remaking its animated classics, such as ‘The Little Mermaid’, starring Halle Bailey, ‘Cruella’, starring Emma Stone, as well as ‘Mulan’, ‘Aladdin’, and even ‘The Lion King’, with others in the works, such as ‘Snow White’ which will star Rachel Zegler, as well as ‘Lilo & Stitch’ and ‘Hercules’.
The animated film hit theaters November 2016, with Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, who goes on a great adventure to save her people. Cravalho played the role when she was only 14 years old, making her the youngest actress to ever play a Disney princess.
‘Moana’s is one of Diney’s most successful films, clocking $643 million at the global box office.
The movie won two Academy Awards, one for Best Animated Feature, and another for Best Original Song.