Disney and Dwayne Johnson have announced that a reimagining of the Moana movie is in development.
During Disney’s annual shareholder meeting today, Johnson appeared to unveil the project. Little has been revealed about the new movie, but Johnson said Moana, Grama Tala, Te Fiti, Heihe, and of course, Maui, will make appearances. Johnson – who voiced Maui in the original animated Moana – will bring the character to life in the live-action version.
In the announcement video, Johnson once again attributed Maui’s inspiration to his grandfather, former WWE star Peter Maivia.
“This story is my culture, and this story is a symbol of the grace of our people and the strength of a warrior,” Johnson said in a press release. “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, Supreme Commander Peter Maivia, is one of the most profound for me.”
The film is produced by Johnson, Danny Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Beau Flynn. Auli’i Cravalho — who voiced Moana in the 2016 original — will serve as executive producer. There is no word yet on who will direct the film.
Moana is the story of a girl chosen by the ocean itself to reunite mystical relics with the goddess Te Fiti. Along the way, Moana meets the exiled demigod Maui, who helps guide her on her quest.
The live-action version of Moana joins a growing list of Disney live-action remakes, including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan, the upcoming The Little Mermaid, and more.
We were big fans of the original Moana in our review, saying, “The film delivers solid humor, well-executed action, memorable music, and likable characters that Disney has perfected in such a delightful and adorable way.”
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with minor lines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
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