What else can he say other than “You’re welcome”?
Disney has given a first look at Dwayne Johnson, who plays Maui in the live-action Moana remake, in a new trailer. Johnson voiced the once-mighty demigod in the original 2016 animated film about an adventurous teenager named Moana who embarks on an adventure to save a village on the island of Motunui.
Newcomer Katherine LaGaia will play the lead role in the upcoming live-action film. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in both the 2016 original and the 2024 sequel, is executive producing alongside director Thomas Kail, Scott Sheldon, and Charles Neuwirth. Producers include Johnson, Beau Flynn (FlynnPictureCo), Danny Garcia and Hiram Garcia (via their Seven Bucks Productions banner), and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
In addition to LaGaia and Johnson, the live-action film’s cast includes John Tui, who plays Moana’s father, Chief Tui; Frankie Adams plays Moana’s mother, Sheena. and Lena Owen as Gramma Tara in Moana. The screenplay will be written by Dana LeDoux Miller and Jared Bush, who also wrote the screenplay for 2016’s Moana.
The live-action version features music by Mark Mancina, Miranda, and Opetaia Foai. Mancina returned to score the film.
The 2016 animated film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $643 million at the global box office (not adjusted for inflation). The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and Miranda received a nomination for her original song “How Far I’ll Go.”
The live-action movie “Moana” will be released in theaters on July 10th.
Check out the full trailer for Johnson’s role as Maui below.
