Dwayne Johnson Says Lin-Manuel Miranda Is Returning for Live-Action MOANA and the Lead Role Has Been Cast
Disney is currently working on two major Moana projects. The first that will be released is the recently announced animated sequel, Moana 2, a movie that was first planned as a sequel series, but after seeing the footage, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that it was so good, it deserved a theatrical release. We will get to see that movie this Thanksgiving.
As for the other Moana project, that’s the live-action film that has been in the works for a while now. It was previously unconfirmed whether or not the major voice-actor characters would return to their roles in the live-action movie, but now a few of them have confirmed one way or another.
In a recent interview with ET, Dwayne Johnson confirmed that aside from his reprisal as the character Maui, composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) will also be returning to do the music for the second film. Johnson also said that while the original Moana, Auli’i Cravalho, will not be returning to play the young princess, a new actress has been found. He teased:
"One of the exciting things about that was actually finding our Moana and how exciting that has been. The global search to find our Moana -- which -- between you and I, we found her -- not gonna tell you yet. [It's] very exciting. Lin Manuel Miranda's coming back. We're doing the music. Tommy Kail is our director, who directed Hamilton. You put everybody together and you want to put the best team together and then you really go for it."
As for what fans can expect from the film, which Johnson said he's "excited" to start shooting later this year, the actor teased, "The scale should be beautiful."
When asked about the animated sequel, Johnson responded, saying:
"It's very exciting. I can't wait for fans to see the film, the technology, the effects, cutting edge. We all really went for it. We thought if we're gonna make a sequel to something so beloved, let's really go for it. You also have the benefit and the beauty of the ocean. In Moana... the ocean is alive, so when the ocean has a heartbeat and a pulse, that's just a whole different thing. I can't wait. All new music, which we're excited."
I loved the first movie, and I am looking forward to the new films in the franchise. Which Moana movie are you most looking forward to?