Dwayne Johnson Announces Live-Action Reimagining of Disney’s ‘Moana’ in Development

Dwayne Johnson has revealed in a recorded message from Hawaii that a live-action reimagining of the 2016 animated hit Moana is in development. Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger shared the major announcement during The Walt Disney Company’s Meeting of Shareholders Webcast. 

Following in the footsteps of the animated hit, the live-action retelling celebrates the islands, communities, and traditions of Pacific Islanders through the eyes of a young woman eager to pave her path. Moana’s journey of self-discovery and reflection on the lives of her ancestors won the hearts of millions worldwide, along with her unlikely friendship with a demigod named Maui. Now audiences will have a chance to experience that magic like never before.

Johnson and Dany Garcia will help produce the new feature film, along with Hiram Garcia via their Seven Bucks Productions and Beau Flynn via Flynn Picture Co, and executive producers include Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 film, and Scott Sheldon of Flynn Picture Co, and Jared Bush, who directed and co-wrote Disney’s Oscar-winning feature Encanto and was a writer and co-director of Disney’s Oscar-winning film Zootopia, and wrote the screenplay for 2016’s Moana. Samoan industry pro Dana Ledoux Miller will also take part in the production. 

You can watch Johnson’s announcement below.

While the film is in early development, fans are curious if Auli‘i Cravalho will make her live-action debut, reprising her iconic role. However, a live-action Moana film would join a long line of successful live-action adaptions, including The Little Mermaid, opening in theaters on May 26.

Let us know in the comments if you are looking forward to seeing a live-action adaptation of Moana.