Disney Reveals Further Details About ‘Moana’

With each day that passes, Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of Moana is becoming more real, and we’re in for a treat!

Disney’s Moana swept audiences off their feet when it was released back in 2016. The movie was Disney’s first-ever release featuring Polynesian traditions and stories, featuring Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, Rachel House as Gramma Tala, Jermaine Clement as Tamatoa, and Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui.

Earlier this year, Disney confirmed we’d get a live-action remake of this stunningly successful movie. Audiences were divided about the announcement, unsure if this was the right move for Disney. However, irrespective, Disney is continuing with the movie. Dwayne Johnson is reprising his role as Maui in the film, though Auli’i Cravalho will not return as Moana. Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho are Executive Producers for the movie, and Johnson is producing the film via his Seven Bucks Productions along with Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia. Beau Flynn is also producing via Flynn Picture Co. The screenwriter for the original movie, Jared Bush, penned the remake, along with Dana Ledoux Miller.

While the hunt for the cast is on, Disney has recently announced that one famous director will likely helm the project in that capacity, and it’s a name Broadway fans will be incredibly familiar with: Thomas Kail.

We tip our hats to him— Thomas Kail won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical. pic.twitter.com/5zzoXTk0YY

— Sweeney Todd (@SweeneyToddBway) May 31, 2023

Who is Thomas Kail?

Tony Award-winning director of Broadway’s Hamilton, Thomas Kail, has been tapped to direct the upcoming Moana live-action. In 2008, he directed the original production of “In the Heights” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which premiered on Broadway in 2008 and won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Kail then collaborated with Lin-Manuel Miranda once again for Hamilton.

Along with this, he continues to work on Broadway. His recent production of Sweeney Todd, starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, recently debuted on Broadway to rave reviews. The production has received eight Tony nominations, including best revival of a musical.

Moana is Kail’s feature narrative directorial debut.