The upcoming live-action movie adaptation of "Moana" is finally coming into pieces as it finally recruited its own director.
"Moana" will be one of Disney's highly-anticipated movie events after the success of "The Little Mermaid" at the box office in the United States and worldwide.
Disney 'Moana' Director Taps 'Hamilton' Alum
According to a The Hollywood Reporter exclusive, the production of the Disney Live-Action adaptation of "Moana" finally lands a director.
Thomas Kail, the director of the cultural phenomenon that is "Hamilton," will be taking the reigns.
Notably, Kail has a lot on his belt. Aside from producing "Hamilton," he was nominated for "In The Heights," earning him a Tony Nomination for Best Director of a Musical.
He also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special for "Grease: Live." He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special on "Fosse/Verdon."
Kail also received a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Film with "We Are Freestyle Love Supreme." He is still on Broadway, directing the 2023 revival production of "Sweeney Todd," nominated for Best Revival of a Musical.
However, the publication also noted that "Moana" will be his first movie feature as he just directed television and on stage.
Disney 'Moana' Cast and Crew
With Thomas Kail at the director's helm, Dwayne The Rock Johnson will be reprising his role as the demigod Maui while also being an executive producer of the show.
The upcoming live-action show will be produced via Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions with Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia. Flynn Picture Co. will also be producing the show;
As for the titular role, Auli'i Cravalho revealed in an Instagram post that she would not be reprising her role as Moana but would instead serve as an executive producer on the film.
"In this live-action retelling, I will not be reprising the role. I believe it is absolutely vital that casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell," she said in the video.
For Cravalho, she is "truly honored" to pass the role to a "young woman of Pacific Island descent" to honor their "incredible Pacific peoples, cultures, and communities that helped inspired her story."
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