The first behind-the-scenes photos of the live-actionMoanamovie reveal a glimpse at Maui and the titular heroine. Since the original Disney movie’s success in 2016, two follow-up projects have been confirmed, including the animatedMoana 2and alive-action version ofMoana. The live-actionMoanawill share a key cast member with its animated counterpart, bringing back Dwayne Johnson as the magnanimous demigod Maui. On the other hand,Catherine Laga’aia will take over the titular roleafter Auliʻi Cravalho voiced the character in the original movies.
Per @reelnewsHawaii, the first set images have been revealed forMoana. Noting that the team was filming “on one of the most popular beaches on the West Side,” the source revealed four photos of the actors. Theimages showed Johnson with a long, dark-haired wig, and a series of chest tattoos characteristicof his demigod character. Laga’aia’s Moana was also in two photos with Maui, wearing the character’s iconic costume. The surrounding set also showed a life-scale version of the boat called wa’a kaulua, where the titular character sets sail.
Click Here To See Johnson’s Maui & Laga’aia’s Moana On The Beach
In addition, Disney executiveAsad Ayazrevealed acelebratory post about the commencement of filmingwith the comment"Oahu Day 1." The first image showed several creative members holding a replica of Maui’s massive hook. They are also standing in front of a more decked-out version of one of the ships witnessed in the set photos. To get a sense of the set’s surroundings, Ayaz also posted two pictures of the sky and environment in Hawaii. Check it out below:
What This Means For Live-Action Moana
MoanaWill Include Non-CGI Set Pieces
The set photos of the live-actionMoanaaffirm how much the movie will rely on practical effects and set pieces. In one on-set photo, multiple wooden boats are in the frame, suggesting that the fleet will be recreated to a life-size scale, rather than rendered in CGI. Maui’s hook is also shown to be a real and huge object, which is similar to its animated counterpart. This means thatMoanawill at least in part rely on built set pieces to convey the magic of Motunui.
Maui’s Backstory, Powers, & Real-Life Inspiration In Moana Explained
Maui’s story, established by 2016’s Moana, continues in Moana 2, building on the character’s existing history, powers, and real-world inspiration.
In addition, the first images reveal that thelive-action movie will be faithful to the original animated counterpartbased on the looks of Johnson and Laga’aia’s version. This includes Maui’s body tattoos and long hair, while Moana embodies her voyager classic suit, with her red crop top and long, beige skirt. However, there is one side character missing from the images, which happens to be Moana’s pet pig, Pua. It’s quite possible that Pua could be CGI’d in a similar manner to how characters were created in 2019’sThe Lion KingandMufasa.
Our Take On These Moana Photos
Moana Could Be Better Than Other Live-Action Adaptations
AsDisney’s live-action remakescontinue being made,Moanaseems like one of the more promising entries. In the past, Disney’s remakes have been criticized for their over-reliance on uncanny CGI. However,Moana’s more mystical elements will still have to rely on computer assistance to some extent. These images show, however, that the live-action film is committed to constructing some of its own sets, therefore creating the real world more fully.
Moana
Cast
In Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Moana,” a young Polynesian girl embarks on a daring voyage to save her people, seeking the demigod Maui’s help to restore the heart of Te Fiti.
