Disney’s latest live-action remake is going to bring viewers back to the island of Motunui. But while this “reimagined” journey through the South Pacific will feature an entirely new cast, one star is returning to the sea. Dwayne Johnson is reprising his role as the trickster demigod Maui. And thanks to the newest trailer for Moana we know what “The Rock with long flowing hair” looks like.
….It’s weird.
Catherine Lagaʻaia is Disney’s newest wayfinder in the studio’s upcoming live-action Moana, but she has the same old demigod by her side. Literally. She also has an identical looking Heihei to sail with. And also a pretty much exact same Tamatoa to battle.
As for everything else…i t’s a mixed bag. The difference in quality of shots throughout this trailer is stark/shocking. Those that (at least appear) to take place in real locations capture the entire reason to make a live-action version of Moana. It takes place in one of the most beautiful locations in all of Disney history. The problem is far too many shots in trailer look like they were hastily filmed in front of a green screen. Then someone forgot to edit those shots until five minutes before this trailer launched. Not exactly a description you’re going to see on a poster anytime soon.
Disney’s new behind-the-scenes featurette shows off the elements that do work. It also gives us hope the final film will look vastly better than this Moana trailer.
The film, from director Thomas Kail, also stars John Tui as Moana’s father Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as her mother Sina, and Rena Owen as her grandmother Gramma Tala. It arrives in theaters this summer on July 10.
That gives us all plenty of time to get used to Dwayne Johnson with a big head of hair. At least as used to it as might be possible.