It is almost a year since Dwayne Johnson confirmed that he would be reprising his role as demi-god Maui in Disney’s live-action remake of Moana. Although the movie is still some way off, that doesn’t mean fans have to wait to see what he could look like on screen as the “You’re Welcome” singing character. In a new concept fan trailer by KH Studio, The Rock is paired up with Zendaya in the role of Moana in a teaser of what the movie may look like.
Johnson revealed in an appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon that he would be stepping back into Maui’s barely-there attire pretty soon. During the interview, which aired back in November 2023, the wrestler-turned-actor stated that Moana will be his next project, which will be directed by Thomas Kail and will feature new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. However, who will take on the title role is still to be revealed.
Could Zendaya Play Moana?
g the lead role in the movie…at least not yet. Originally, it was announced that Auli’i Cravalho, the original voice star of Disney’s 2016 movie, would be bringing the character to life in the live-action retelling of the story. However, it was later revealed that this is not going to be the case and someone else will be playing the Pacific Islander.
It is partly down to the indigenous nature of Moana’s story that Cravalho didn’t want to put herself back into the role, preferring instead to allow another actress the opportunity to make their big break in the industry. While speaking to The Wrap earlier this year, she explained:
“It feels really important to me to pass the baton to the next young woman of Pacific Island descent, and I say that with my whole chest. I have been invited, and I exist in these beautiful AAPI spaces, Asian American Pacific Islander, and I am one of the few Pacific Islanders. And I’ll say it again, I am one of the few Pacific Islanders. And our stories are so important to be told.
We are used. And I want to tell our own stories. I want to be behind the camera as much as I am in front of it. When I talk about representation, I want to see the same thing happening in writers rooms. I want to see the same thing happening with directors. And Taika Waititi talks about this as well, I wanna see showrunners who are also of indigenous descent telling their own stories.
And if it has to start with me — I’m 23, but if it starts with me, so be it. I want that door to swing wide open, and I cannot wait to meet the next Moana.”
Based on Cavalho’s comments, it would be foolish for Disney to cast an established American star such as Zendaya in the role, and it could be possible that we will see an unknown actress getting the biggest role of their lives as their first Hollywood gig. It certainly would be the stuff of Disney dreams.
