Disney has been determined to recreate its classics in live-action, leading to successes like The Lion King. Now, as announced by Dwayne Johnson at Disney’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Webcast, a live-action remake of 2016’s Moana is in the works, with the star set to return.
At the webcast for shareholders of the company, Dwayne Johnson had a pre-recorded message about Moana. He also posted a video on social media to deliver the announcement as he walked on a beach with his daughters (seen below). He said that his character Maui “changed my life” and that the new take on the film will “tell our story thru music & dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people.”
Moana live-action remake coming with Dwayne Johnson
Humbled to say we’re bringing #MOANA’s beautiful story to the live action big screen!#MAUI changed my life (miss you grandpa) and I’m honored to partner with @DisneyStudios to tell our story thru the realm of music & dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people🪝 pic.twitter.com/CxJFKQewUS
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 3, 2023
Not much is known about what we can expect from the Moana live-action remake with Dwayne Johnson. We will get plenty of familiar faces from the original 2016 animated film. Who else is returning from the original film is uncertain. The star said the film is “very early in the process.”
The film’s story followed its titled character (Auli’i Cravalho) in search of the Demigod Maui to correct a curse that has reached her people. It also starred Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople), Temuera Morrison (The Book of Boba Fett), Nicole Scherzinger (Ralph Breaks the Internet), Jermaine Clement, and Alan Tudyk. The two-time Oscar-nominated film was directed by Ron Clements (Aladdin), John Musker (Aladdin), and Don Hall (Big Hero 6). Clements and Musker wrote the film with Jared Bush (Encanto).
While having some big stars like Dwayne Johnson, Moana found great success at the box office and with its reception. It grossed $643 million worldwide. Its reviews praised the film’s characters, animation, and cultural core. It has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and an audience score of 89%.