Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock,” has announced that a live-action remake of Disney’s 2016 animated film “Moana” is in the works. The actor shared the news during Disney’s annual shareholders meeting on Monday, alongside Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Johnson, who is of Samoan heritage, expressed his excitement about being involved in the project, saying, “This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength.”
The film, which will be produced under Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions, tells the story of a young Polynesian woman named Moana who sets out on a journey to reunite a mystical relic with its owner, a goddess named Te Fiti. Along the way, she teams up with Maui, a demigod, and faces a series of challenges as she tries to restore balance to her island home.
The original film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $665 million worldwide and receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. It featured the voices of Auli’i Cravalho as Moana and Johnson as Maui.
While there is currently no director attached to the live-action remake, it has been confirmed that the screenplay will be written by Jared Bush, who also wrote the screenplay for the original film. Dana Ledoux Miller will co-write the script with Bush.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina will be working on the music for the remake, as they did for the original.
Johnson’s involvement in the project is particularly significant given his Samoan heritage and his close ties to the Polynesian community. He has previously spoken about the importance of cultural representation in entertainment, and his production company has produced several projects focused on Polynesian culture and mythology.
The “Moana” remake is just one of several Disney live-action remakes currently in development, including “The Little Mermaid,” “Peter Pan & Wendy,” and “Pinocchio.” While some fans have criticized the trend of remaking classic animated films, others are excited to see how these stories will be reimagined for a new generation.
