Moana is getting a live-action remake at Disney
How far back will Disney go to find its next animated film to remake? Not that far — just seven years.
Disney has announced a live-action remake of its 2016 animated movie Moana is in the works. The news was confirmed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who voiced Maui in the original movie and is involved in the reimagining. Auli'i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, is producing.
Johnson said it's "still very early in the process" and that there's "so much more work to be done" on the movie. But he tweeted that he's "honored" to partner with Disney "to tell our story thru the realm of music & dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Moana will be the latest in a series of live-action remakes of Disney's animated films, but it will be by far the most recent. The studio has never before released a live-action reimagining of any of its movies from the 21st century, though a live-action version of 2002's Lilo & Stitch is also in the works. The original animated version of Moana grossed $682 million worldwide and was nominated for two Oscars.
For the most part, Disney's live-action remakes have been hugely successful at the box office, with the new versions of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin all grossing over $1 billion worldwide. Some of the studio's other upcoming live-action remakes include this year's Peter Pan & Wendy and The Little Mermaid and next year's Snow White, and Hercules, The Aristocats, and Bambi are among the other movies being translated into live-action.
But the Moana remake could open the door to more reimaginings of modern Disney films, possibly including Frozen. Do you want to build a live-action snowman?
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The Week Unwrapped: Are we any closer to identifying UFOs?
Podcast Plus, will deals with Tunisia and Kurdistan help Labour? And what next for the Wagner Group?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 - 22 November
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Firing shells, burning ballots, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published