As part of The Walt Disney Company's Meeting of Shareholders Webcast earlier today, Disney CEO Bob Iger shared an announcement video which sees Dwayne Johnson reveal - from Hawaii - that a live-action Moana movie is in the works.
The animated version was released in theaters in 2016 and grossed nearly $644 million at the worldwide box office. It boasted a soundtrack written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa'i, and Mark Mancina, and there have long been rumblings about a live-action spin on this story.
As you might expect, Johnson will reprise the role of demi-god Maui, though it's unclear whether Auli'i Cravalho will return as Moana. The actress is 22, so we're guessing not...unless this is a sequel to the original movie! Cravalho will, however, executive produce the project alongside Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia.
Like its animated predecessor, the film will celebrate the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders as seen through the eyes of a young woman eager to pave her own path. Moana’s journey of self-discovery and reflection on the lives of her ancestors won hearts worldwide, as did her newfound friendship with an exiled demigod named Maui.
Johnson, who plans to return to the fictional world to set sail with Moana, 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."
"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."
Cravalho, who helped shape Moana in the original film, adds: "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."
We're excited to see this one come together, though Johnson mentions that it's still early days for the movie in the announcement video below. With that in mind, we don't currently have a release date.