Catherine Laga’aia is Moana for Disney’s Moana live-action film with Dwayne Johnson
Disney has announced the casting of Catherine Laga’aia as Moana for their upcoming Moana live-action film with Dwayne Johnson who reprises his role as demigod Maui.
Here’s what she had to say over the casting:
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said Laga‘aia, a 17-year-old from Sydney, Australia. “My grandfather comes from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”
Other cast members that have already been cast aside from The Rock includes:
- John Tui as Moana’s father, Chief Tui
- Frankie Adams as Moana’s mother, Sina
- Rena Owen as Gramma Tala
The live-action movie was announced last April, with the news that Johnson would return to star and produce. In fact, Johnson has been promoting the film even while he was busy doing his short stint for Wrestlemania 40. It was even incorporated in some promos and social media mentions by WWE superstars including Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
And here’s the announcement by Dwayne Johnson
