The esteemed Disney Studios has announced a star-studded remake of the beloved animated hit "Moana," and the lead role has been awarded to the rising Australian talent Catherine Laga'aia. After an extensive search, the 17-year-old actress from Sydney has been chosen to reprise the titular character, joining the legendary Dwayne Johnson, who will reprise his role as the demigod Maui.
In a statement, Laga'aia expressed her excitement about embodying the character, stating, "I'm thrilled to bring Moana to life as she is one of my favorite characters. My grandfather hails from Fa'aala, Palauli, in Savai'i, and my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of 'Upolu in Samoa. It's an honor to have the opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me."
Laga'aia follows in the footsteps of Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced the original Moana in 2016 and will serve as an executive producer on the remake. It's said that Cravalho is mentoring the younger actress in her new role.
Moreover, Catherine is stepping into the family business, as her father is the renowned actor and singer Jay Laga'aia, who played Captain Typho in the Star Wars prequel films.
The cast of the remake is stacked with talent, including Auckland-based New Zealand actor John Tui portraying Moana's father, Chief Tui, Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams as Moana's mother, Sina, and Rena Owen, hailing from the Bay of Islands in New Zealand, as Gramma Tala.
Directing this magnum opus is Thomas Kail, the helmsman of Broadway's hit musical "Hamilton." Kail, who also recently directed episodes of the Hulu limited series "We Were the Lucky Ones," is eager to embark on this new adventure. He said, "I am thrilled to have met Catherine, Rena, Frankie, and John through this casting process. I am humbled by this opportunity, and I cannot wait to bring our talents together on set. And who could ask for a better canoe partner than Catherine and Dwayne? Actually, make that a trio—Heihei is ready to join us, too!"
"Moana" holds a special place in Disney's heart, as the 2016 film has consistently ranked among the most streamed movies in the U.S. for several years. According to Nielsen, it was the most-viewed streaming movie in the U.S. in 2023 (coming in at No. 4 in 2022 and No. 2 in both 2021 and 2020). Disney also has plans for a separate animated sequel to "Moana," set to release on November 27.
The production is being helmed by Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia through their Seven Bucks Productions, with Beau Flynn producing via FlynnPictureCo. Adding another layer of excitement to the project is Lin-Manuel Miranda, the songwriter of "Moana," who is also producing after receiving an Oscar nomination for the song "How Far I'll Go."
With such a star-studded cast and crew, the remake of "Moana" promises to be a visual and emotional spectacle that will captivate audiences worldwide.
