Hamilton Director To Bring Moana To Life
Disney's beloved animated film Moana is set to be adapted into a live-action feature, with the talented Broadway director Thomas Kail at the helm Kail, who has worked closely with Lin-Manuel Miranda, is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the story of the Polynesian princess
The director for the live-action version of Disney's Moana has been announced as Thomas Kail, known for his work on Broadway shows like Hamilton and In The Heights. The 2016 animated musical featured Auli'i Cravalho as the brave Moana who, along with Dwayne Johnson's Maui, set out on a dangerous quest to save her island home. Lin-Manuel Miranda, famous for his work on Hamilton, produced the movie's original songs. In April 2023, Cravalho and Johnson revealed their plans to produce a new live-action adaptation, with Johnson set to reprise his role as Maui. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kail will be taking on the role of director for the upcoming film. Kail has previously directed both the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Miranda's hit musicals, and is also set to direct a remake of the 1971 musical Fiddler on the Roof.
Who Is Returning To Bring Moana Into Live-Action?
Jared Bush, the screenwriter for the original Moana film, is set to return to write the upcoming live-action remake. Dwayne Johnson will be producing alongside Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced the titular character in the animated version. However, Cravalho will not be reprising her role in the live-action film, as she hopes to find an actor who better embodies the character of Moana. While Johnson will be returning to play Maui, no other original cast members have been confirmed for the remake. Flynn Pictures Co. will be partnering with Johnson's production company, Seven Bucks Productions, to bring the beloved story to life in a new format.
The hiring of Kail for the live-action Moana remake has sparked discussions about the potential return of other key contributors to the film's development. With Kail's past collaborations with Miranda on two successful musicals, it's possible that the songwriter could be brought back to create new recordings of the original film's songs. Additionally, Kail's impressive directorial work on Hamilton could elevate the live-action version of Moana and set it apart from the animated original.
