Moana became one of the biggest animated hits on Disney in the past several years and it has spawned a mini-franchise with an upcoming Disney+ series. The main characters have become significant figures in Disneyland and the film has also sold a lot of merchandise. In addition, the soundtrack has become iconic as kids around the world sing along with the songs all the time.
We have also seen a major trend recently where Disney has produced live-action remakes of several animated titles in their hundred-year catalog and it seems inevitable that Moana will get the same treatment at some point in the future. However, it looks like it will actually happen sooner than we thought.
According to Deadline, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in the annual shareholder meeting that a live-action reimagining of Moana is currently in development at Walt Disney Studios. Dwayne Johnson, who voiced Maui in the original animated film, is involved as one of the producers.
Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Beau Flynn are also part of the producing team. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original film, will also executive produce. Jared Bush, the screenwriter of the original film, and Samoan industry pro Dana Ledoux Miller are also involved in the project.
You can check Johnson's announcement video here:
"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," Johnson said in the announcement.
"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."
He also added, "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."
This is certainly surprising news since it's only been a couple of years since the animated film came out and you would think that they'll take more time before they proceed with a live-action remake. However, that wasn't the case as development already started. Now, it is interesting to see if Johnson and Cravalho will also be involved on-screen.
Also Read: Disney's The Aristocats Live-Action Remake Finds Its Director
For now, you can catch the original Moana film on Disney+.
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