The 2016 Disney movie Moana is one of the sweetest and most empowering stories. The main character, voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, wants to fix the heart of Te Fiti, the beautiful island where she lives. Dwayne Johnson voiced Maui, a demigod, with Temuera Morrison voicing Moana's strict dad Tui and Rachel House voicing Moana's grandmother. Moana is an intelligent and endearing character with a goal that she wants to achieve, and watching her journey is fun and moving.
When Moana was released in theaters in November 2016, it was a huge hit. The movie grossed $643,331,111 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, and it still remains a fan favorite for many. There is going to be a live-action remake of Moana, and here's everything to know about it.
Dwayne Johnson Himself Announced The Moana Remake
In April 2023, Dwayne Johnson made a live announcement about the Moana remake, which fans can watch on YouTube. He stood on the beach in Hawaii with his two daughters Jasmine and Tia Giana as they played in the sand and he said, "Aloha, everyone, from beautiful Hawaii... As you know, Hawaii means so much to my family and me... The Pacific Islands and their cultures inspired a very special story, one that you all know very well."
Johnson continued, "We are so excited and happy to announce that a live-action and reimagining of Moana is in the works." He talked about how he was inspired by his grandfather and is thinking about him while working on the remake. He said, "When I bring Maui to life, I'm doing it in the spirit of my grandfather. It's still very early in the process, there's still so much more work to be done."
Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role of Maui, a demigod who is memorable because he carries around a fish hook. Maui and Moana bond as he is there for her during her journey, and he's a likable character who is a big part of the story. There aren't any other details out yet, and as Johnson said himself, there is still a long road ahead.
Moana Is Less Than 10 Years Old
Some people dislike Disney's live-action remakes as sometimes, it seems better to leave the original story alone. In some cases, a fresh take can be added, which explains the necessity of a new version. But in other cases, there doesn't seem to be much of a reason for a remake.
Moana was released in 2016, making it less than 10 years old, which makes the remake announcement even more surprising. In order for a remake, live-action or not, to really make sense, it seems like more time should have passed.
While there are definitely some good Disney live-action remakes, it's tough to see why it's necessary to announce a remake of Moana around seven years after the original was released. The story is still fresh in fans' minds. It's such a beloved and popular film that there is going to be an audience who is willing to head to the theater to see it, but it's still tough to agree that this was a great idea when there are so many original movies that can be made.
Dwayne Johnson Took A Hit On Black Adam
One of the DC movies released in 2022, Dwayne Johnson starred in Black Adam as the main character Teth-Adam/Black Adam, whose powerful journey is explored. And while there are many great Dwayne Johnson movies, not many would say Black Adam is one of them. Did Dwayne Johnson want to make a remake of Moana because
Black Adam didn't do well? According to a Variety article from December 2022, the movie grossed $387 million once it had been in theaters for seven weeks.
However, that was a problem and not what the movie was expected to make. The Hollywood Reporter put the budget at $190 million and Cinemablend.com reported that the total cost was $260 million because of reshoots.
How did Johnson feel about the box office response to Black Adam? He said in an interview with Variety in March 2023, “All that I can do, and all that we could do when we were making ‘Black Adam,’ was to put our best foot forward and surround ourselves with the best people and deliver the best movie we could. Our audience score was in the 90s. Critics took a couple shots, but that’s just the business of it.”
Since Black Adam lost money at the box office, it's possible to think that Johnson wants to release a movie that will be a guaranteed hit. And while many will no doubt love the live-action remake of Moana because the story is so moving, is it really necessary?