In a video with his daughters, Dwayne Johnson said that he would be back as Maui.
“Moana” is coming back to the big screen, but this time it will be in live-action form.
Disney announced on Monday that a live-action “reimagining” of the 2016 animated movie Moana is in the works. Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho, who played the original Moana, will both be producing the movie.
Like its animated predecessor, the film 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,
reads a release from the studio.
Moana’s journey of self-discovery and reflection on the lives of her ancestors won hearts worldwide, as did her newfound friendship with an exiled demigod named Maui.
Dwayne Johnson said he’ll be back as Maui by posting a video of himself with his daughters Tia and Jasmine on Oahu’s beaches.
Aloha everyone from beautiful Hawaii. We are here on the island of Oahu, where I did a lot of my growing up,
he shared.
As you know, Hawaii means so much to my family and me and the traditions of our ‘ohana, or ‘aiga,’ as we say in Samoa, were shaped by these incredible islands.
Dwayne Johnson said that the movie will also have Gramma Tala, Pua the Pig, Te Fiti, and the songs and dances from the animated movie, along with Maui and the main character. He also said that he was proud to play Maui again because the character was based on his late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia.
As you guys can see, just how deep this story is for me. In a way, when I bring Maui to life, I’m going it in the spirit of my grandfather,
he added.
So, it’s still very early in the process, there’s so much more work to be done.
At the end of the clip, Dwayne Johnson sent his kids to get the huge Manaiakalani for his character.
It’s not clear if Cravalho will also be back on screen, but she said in a statement that the character “has had such a big impact on how we think of Disney princesses.” She added,
Moana’s strength and perseverance are inspiring—to audiences around the world, to me and to everyone who helped bring her to life. I’m looking forward to sharing her story in a whole new way.
The first movie came out in November 2016 and made nearly $644 million at the box office around the world.
