Moana (Film)

***Moana*** is an upcoming American live-action fantasy musical film adaptation of the 2016 animated film of the same name. It is scheduled to be released on June 27, 2025.

## Moana

### Written by

Jared Bush
Dana Ledoux Miller

### Produced by

Lewis Cosgrove
Dwayne Johnson
Bean Flynn
Dany Garcia
Hiram Garcia

## Cast

* Dwayne Johnson as Maui
* To-be-confirmed actress as Moana

## Production

### Development

On April 3, 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Dwayne Johnson shared the news during Disney’s annual shareholder’s meeting Monday, that a live-action remake of the 2016 animated film, *Moana*, would be in development.

Dwayne Johnson is set to act as producer for the film, via his production company, Seven Bucks Productions. His co-star in the 2016 animated film, Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced the titular character, will executive produce with Scott Sheldon of Flynn Picture Co..

On May 31, 2023, Thomas Kail was announced to be the film's director.

### Writing

*The Hollywood Reporter* announced that Jared Bush, who wrote the screenplay for the original movie, would return for the remake.

### Casting

Dwayne Johnson revealed he was set to reprise his role of Maui, in the live-action remake.

Auli'i Cravalho confirmed that she will not reprise her role as Moana.

## Trivia

* *Moana* contains the shortest gap of time, between its original animated film, and its live-action remake, with 9 years apart to be exact.
* This is the first original film of the Revival era to get a live-action remake.
	+ It's also the first Princess film from said era to get one as well.
	+ It's also the first 3D film to get one.
* Dwayne Johnson previously voiced Maui in the original film.
	+ Johnson is the sixth actor to reprise his role for a Disney remake of a previous Disney animated production after Jim Cummings, Brad Garrett (both of who reprised Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, also voiced by Cummings since the late 1980s, and Eeyore, whom Garrett voiced previously in *Animated StoryBook: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree* and recently in *Ralph Breaks the Internet*, in 2018's *Christopher Robin*), Frank Welker (who reprised the vocal effects for Abu and Rajah and the voice of the Cave of Wonders in *Aladdin*), James Earl Jones (who reprised his role as Mufasa in *The Lion King*), and Chris Sanders (who will reprise his role as Stitch in *Lilo & Stitch*).
* *Moana* is the eighth confirmed Disney Princess remake, after *Maleficent*, *Cinderella*, *Beauty and the Beast*, *Aladdin*, *Mulan*, *The Little Mermaid*, and *Snow White*.
	+ Moana will be the first live-action Disney Princess to not have a love-interest.
* Thomas Kail, who is set to direct the film, also previously directed Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical productions, particularly *In the Heights* and *Hamilton* (which in turn later became a 2020 filmed musical version of the Broadway production released on Disney+). Curiously, Miranda also wrote the lyrics for the original 2016 film.

## References

1. ↑ Jump up to:1.0 1.1 "Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’ Taps ‘Hamilton’ Helmer Thomas Kail as Director". *The Hollywood Reporter* (May 31, 2023).
2. ↑ Jump up to:2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "Live-Action *Moana* in the Works from Dwayne Johnson, Disney". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved on April 3, 2023.
3. ↑ Jump up to:3.0 3.1 "Disney Dates New ‘Star Wars’ Movie, Shifts ‘Deadpool 3’ and Entire Marvel Slate, Delays ‘Avatar’ Sequels Through 2031". *Variety* (June 13, 2023).
4. ↑ Cravalho, Auli'i (May 19, 2023). "#Moana ❤️🌀". *Instagram*.