NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� 鈥淢oana鈥� will be the latest Walt Disney Co. animation to get the live-action treatment, and at least one star is coming back.
Disney chief executive Bob Iger announced a live-action 鈥淢oana鈥� remake is in development Monday in a call with investors. The production is in the early stages 鈥� no director has been announced 鈥� but Dwayne Johnson is set to return as the demigod Maui.
鈥淭his story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people鈥檚 grace and warrior strength,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淚 wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me.鈥�
Drawn from Polynesian myths and buoyed by songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, 鈥淢oana鈥� was a massive hit for Disney in 2016, grossing $643.3 million worldwide. Auli鈥榠 Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original, is to be an executive producer on the live-action version.
The Associated Press
