By Michaela Gordoni
The MOANA live-action trailer is finally here, starring Catherine Laga‘aia and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Johnson resumes the role as Maui — the same he played in the animated MOANA movies — but Laga’aia is a newcomer to the MOANA franchise, Variety reported Nov. 17.
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said 17-year-old Laga‘aia. “My grandfather comes from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa.”
“I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me,” she said.
John Tui will play Moana’s father, Chief Tui. Frankie Adams will play Moana’s mother, Sina, and Rena Owen will appear as Gramma Tala.
Related: Will MOANA Be Able to Catch Another Wave With Live-Action Version?
The movie follows the same storyline as the animated movie. Jared Bush wrote the animated MOANA script. He co-wrote the live action beside Dana Ledoux Miller, with Thomas Kail as director. Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Beau Flynn will produce. Mark Mancina will score the film.
In 2023, Johnson first revealed that a live-action MOANA was coming. At the time, he shared a recorded video filmed on the Hawaiian island of Oahu with his daughters Jasmine and Tiana, ABC News reported.
A press release at the time said the movie 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.”
This is the fastest live-action remake Disney will have from an animated movie. MOANA will be barely 10 years old when the live-action comes out. MOANA 2 just came out last year.
Some commentators have criticized the remake, calling it a money grab by Disney.
“Why do we need a live action one????” one person wrote under the trailer on YouTube.
“Look I hope it’s good but I just don’t understand the appeal of this. Like…the water, all the creatures, and everything looks exactly like the animated film. What’s the point? (Other than a billion dollars),” another said.
“It looks kinda cool, but… did we really need this remake??” someone else said.
“I mean… why? The second movie just came out last year? This seems soooo pointless,” someone said on The Rock’s Monday Instagram announcement.
Regardless of the reason for the quick remake, some families and kids are bound to be happy to see their favorite Disney character take to the screen again.
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