No folks. Zendaya has not been cast as the new Moana

Disney studios released a picture of an older Moana that will featured in a new animated musical.

Hold your horses. Calm down. Zendaya has not been cast as Pacific Islander princess Moana in the live-action remake. 

A trailer purported to be an "official" trailer for the live-action remake of the original Disney animated movie announcing that Zendaya has been cast in the title role is a fake. Cries of cultural appropriation exploded on the internet when the fake trailer first appeared. Zendaya is not of Pacific Islander descent.

“Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. “And we can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when Moana 2 comes to theaters in November."

What is true is that Disney is planning to retell the tale of Moana's search for a new island home with real actors. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who viced the demi-god Maui in the animated feature will reprise that role in the life-action version. However, the search for an actress to play Moana is underway.

Unfortunately, Aul'i Cravalho, who provided the original voice of Moana will not return for the live-action remake. 

FYI: Meet the actress playing Moana

Cravalho, who will be 23 years old when filming starts and in the Disney story, Moana is only 16. The actress, who is currently starring in the Broadway version of "Mean Girls," said in an Instagram post that she will keep her ties with the Moana franchise as an executive producer.

“I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next woman of Pacific Island descent to honor our incredible Pacific peoples, cultures, and communities that help inspire her story, and I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representation to come. Mahalo," Cravalho shared on Instagram.

Thomas Kail, the Tony Award-winning director of “Hamilton” on Broadway, will direct the movie. "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music for the original Moana, will do the same for the live-action musical.

Cinema Pro Studio published a concept trailer (See below) of Moana on its YouTube page, showing Zendaya and The Rock in the film.

"Here's our concept trailer for 'Moana Live Action,' an exhilarating cinematic journey that brings Zendaya's Moana and Dwayne Johnson's Maui to life in a captivating new adaptation,” says the description under the concept trailer.

A concept trailer featuring Zendaya alarmed Moana fans.

Cravalho, however, will provide the voice of the animated project, tentatively titled Moana 2, that will feature further adventures of the island princess.

Originally scheduled to start filming this year, the release of the live-action film was pushed back to mid 2025. Nevertheless, the fake trailer went viral an stirred up social media critics.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical Moana 2 is not a remake but a continuation of Moana's adventures. It takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers.

Moana 2 takes place three years after the end of the original Moana. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

The voice actors from the original Moana will be back, including:

• Auli’i Cravalho as Moana
• Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as Maui
• Nicole Scherzinger as Sina
• Temuera Morrison as Chief Tai

Johnson will provided the voice of the demi-god Maui in the original animated movie will repeat the role in the animated sequel and the live-action movie. He feels close to the role because of his own Samoan heritage. “As many of you know ... we found so much inspiration for Maui in the mana and the presence of my late grandfather, the legendary High Chief, Peter Maivia," Johnson shared.

Directed by Dave Derrick Jr. with music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina, Moana 2 opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

TGIF FEATURE: Moana to be redubbed in Hawaiian

Disney introduced its first Pacific Islander 'preincess' in Moana.

ASAM NEWS

A HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE version of the Disney hit Moana will be given to every accredited school across Hawaii this Christmas, reports Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii’s Academy for Creative Media worked on the project.

“This was an educational endeavor to encourage students to learn Olelo Hawaii and we are so grateful to our partners at Disney Animation and Disney Character Voices International for making this possible,” Academy for Creative Media Director and Founder, Chris Lee, said.

Auli'i Cfravalho will voice her role as Moana in the Hawaiian version of the animated Moana.

Actress and Native Hawaiian Auliʻi Cravalho reprised her starring role in the Hawaiian remake.

“I am so deeply proud of my Hawaiian roots,” Cravalho said to University of Hawaii News last year.. “To perform the role of Moana, acting and singing in the Hawaiian language, is so deeply humbling and exciting. I can’t wait to work with the talented language experts who will help bring this version to life.”
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The Oscars: More AAPI appearances than expected

Auli'i Carvalho wasn't fazed by one of the flags representing the moving ocean, brushed her hair as she was singing.

SIXTEEN-YEAR OLD Auli'i Cravalho showed how much a pro she is when a banner hit her in the head while singing 
"How Far I'll Go," which was nominated for Best Song for the Academy Awards.

Fortunately, the banner barely grazed her, slightly missing up her hair, but the Hawaiian/American, who provided the voice for Moana in the animated film of the same name, kept on smiling and singing as if nothing happened.

The song didn't win (the award went to "City of Stars" from La La Land) but the teenager's performance and natural good looks was a breath of fresh air in an auditorium full of movie industry big wigs, big names, silicon implants, nose jobs and face lifts. Considering the ovation she received from the audience and the fact it was the first time the world saw her live (not in animated form), that last night, a star was born. I wouldn't be surprised if she shows up onstage in a Lin-Manuel Miranda production.

I loved the "real" look she expressed as she was receiving a standing ovation. It was a combination look of relief and "I-told-you-I-could-do-it."

After Auli'i Cravalho's performance, she gave this look to someone in the audience.

The flag incident wasn't the only goof-up on the show watched by millions across the globe. The biggest mistake occurred at the end of the show.

While naming the winner of the Best Picture, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly announced La La Land. Midway through the thank you speeches, it was announced that there was a mistake. The real winner was Moonlight. The La La Land crew was gracious in handing over their Oscars to the the Moonlight actors, director and producers.

It's a good thing that I wasn't playing the drinking game during the Oscars telecast last night. You know, every time an Asian appeared, drink a shot of scotch. With the number of Asian appearances, I might be so incapacitated that I wouldn't be able to write this post.

Newlyweds Patrick and Eulery were interviewed by emcee Jimmy Kimmel.

Besides Auli'i, there was a surprising number of AAPI folks representing during the show than expected. It was as if the camera people were told to zoom in on people of color in order to  beat back #OscarsSoWhite that's haunted the awards show the last two years: the wife of an awards winner; Patrick and Yulree, the anonymous honeymooning couple who were in a tour group that was surprised when they walked into the middle of the Oscar telecast, introduced to the star-filled audience and got to meet and shake hands with some of the biggest names in the movies.

Dwayne Johnson, looking dapper in his tux, introduced his Moana co-star, Auli'i Carvalho. 

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It was good to see Jackie Chan introduced and get some screen time and a round of applause for wining an honorary Oscar in an earlier, separate ceremony. 

Filipino/American Hailee Steinfeld looked stunning wearing a Ralph & Russo creation as she gave out the Oscars for best animated features with actor Gael Garcia Bernal. Zootopia beat out Moana.

John Cho was funny and charming, Hailee Steinfeld was beautiful, Riz Ahmed looked like James Bond and Dev Patel looked at ease on stage as the AAPI actors introduced or presented awards.

Illustrator Tyrus Wong was among the people honored in the Memoriam segment.

Emcee Jimmy Kimmel found Sunny Pawar, the young star of Lion, in the audience. Sunny is so adorable, he continues to capture the hearts of Hollywood.

Then there were the four anonymous Chinese fans in a clip explaining (in a Chinese dialect) why they like the movies (perhaps a nod to the emerging audience in China).

Anonymous Chinese fan.

John Legend performed "City of Stars," the Oscar-winning song from La La Land,  and wherever the singer performs, his wife, model Chrissy Teigen is not far away. The camera loves Teigen and often pans over to her as her husband sings.

Unfortunately, someone got a picture of her (see below) during the awarding of the Best Actor category near the end of the show -- which went to Casey Affleck's work in Manchester -- and posted it online. Uh ... perhaps Teigen's apparent slumber can best be explained by the fact that she was spotted making her way to the bar prior to the show. 

More likely, though, as any mother to an infant can understand; sometimes the exhausting work of being a mother catches up to you at the most unexpected time.

Chrissy Teigen, center, was found napping in the long, long awards show.

All in all, it was a fairly enjoyable show. The goof-ups added a bit of unrehearsed action that added to the entertainment.

At least we didn't have any crude anti-Asian jokes coming from Kimmel or any of the presenters although Kimmel was chided for making fun of Yulree's name. I think there was a pretty good blowback against those jokes that marred last year's Oscar telecast and it shows the value of speaking out and the power of social media.

Let's see: That would have been 13 shots of scotch, in case you're counting. Enough to put anyone over.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Earlier versions of this post misspelled Yulree's name.

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Dev Patel, 'Moana' song nominated for Oscars

Oscar nominee Dev Patel in a scene from 'Lion.'

By Louis Chan
ASAM NEWS

HOPEFULLY, #OscarsSoWhite, is no more.

The Oscar nominations came out today with six black actors garnering nominations, the most in Oscar history. After huge uproars two years in a row about the lack of diversity at the Academy Awards, this was a refreshing change.

Asian/American Pacific Islanders were also among the honored.

Dev Patel snagged a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Saroo Brierley in Lion, which stars Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara. Patel portrays an Indian-born Australian businessman who goes in search for his birth mother 25 years later.

Patel's breakout film was Slum Dog Millionaire, which won eight Academy Awards, but none for acting. Patel was not even nominated back then. He is just the third Indian actor and just the 13th Asian to ever receive a nomination.

Disney’s Moana received a nomination for best animated feature. The film garnered praise from some members of the Pacific Islander community for its cultural authenticity and for its extensive research into the Island culture. Others, however, condemned it for what they perceived as cultural appropriation.

Moana was also nominated for best song for "How Far I’ll Go," performed in the movie by Auli’i Cravalho, a 16-year Hawaiian actress making her Hollywood debut.

Kubo and the Two Strings won two nominations, for best visual effects and best animated feature. It starred George Takei, but was largely criticized for its lack of diversity for a film set in ancient Japan.

Director Justin Lin’s Star Trek Beyond was honored with a nomination for best make up and hair.

The nominated songs are typically performed during the telecast of the Oscars. There are several versions of the songs by a host of singers. In their push for the song, created by Hamilton's Lin Manuel Miranda, Disney had the song recorded by Asian singers popular in their respective countries. In the U.S., it was released with pop singer Alessia Cara because Disney thought it was more commercial than actress/singer Auli'l Carvalho, who is the voice of the title character.

I don't know about that. Which version do you prefer? It sure would be great to have a Hawaiian sing the song live during the Oscar's program, one of the most watched TV shows in the world.

This animated version features the voice of Auli'l Carvalho.

This version features Alessia Cara. (Voices From the Edge contributed to this report.)

TGIF FEATURE: New extended trailer for Polynesian princess

Meet the new Disney characters, Moana and Maui.

A NEW TRAILER for the Disney animated feature Moana debuted on Good Morning America this morning. It was introduced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who provided the voice for the demi-god Maui.

Moana follows the story of Moana (voiced by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho), a daring 16-year-old who goes on a voyage across the ocean to save her people. Along the way she meets demigod Maui (voiced by Johnson), who guides her on her journey.

The gorgeous animation and what seem to be likable characterizations seem to mark another hit. Moana is the first "princess" of Pacific Islander heritage.

The movie is scheduled for a Thanksgiving release. For you AAPI parents, expect to see the Moana dolls by Christmas and a live character at the Disney parks this summer. Great tattoos, too!