Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, took to Twitter to announce the production of a live-action remake of the 2016 Disney film Moana, in which he will reprise his role as the demigod Maui. The actor revealed that he is “very early in the process” and that there is “a lot of work to do.”
Moana was a great success, grossing over $650 million against a budget of $175 million, making it a prime candidate for a live-action remake, as many beloved Disney films have undergone.
The announcement was made while The Rock stood on the beach in Hawaii with his daughters, expressing his excitement and happiness for the new project. He shared that he does it in his grandfather’s spirit when he brings Maui to life.
Humbled to say we’re bringing #MOANA’s beautiful story to the live action big screen!#MAUI changed my life (miss you grandpa) and I’m honored to partner with @DisneyStudios to tell our story thru the realm of music & dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people🪝 pic.twitter.com/CxJFKQewUS
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 3, 2023
The Rock’s announcement of the Oceania live-action remake has excited many Disney fans, and the actor is enthusiastic about bringing Maui to life again. With the success of previous live-action remakes, many look forward to seeing how this new version will turn out.
Disney has been on a roll with live-action remakes, and in the coming months, they will release The Little Mermaid and Snow White, followed by The Aristocats and Hercules shortly. The directorial return of Guy Ritchie, who was behind the camera in the Aladdin remake, is set for the Hercules remake.
Joe Russo, who co-produced the project with his brother Anthony, told GamesRadar+ that the film would honor the original story while updating it to feel “modern” for a new audience. He also noted that the remake would pay homage to the original’s humor and subversiveness.
