Disney has announced that a live-action adaptation of its popular 2016 animated film, ‘Moana, is in early development. The news was revealed by actor Dwayne Johnson, who will produce the movie with his partners Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia through their Seven Bucks Productions, along with Beau Flynn of Flynn Picture Co. The original Moana voice actor, Auli’i Cravalho, will serve as one of the executive producers, along with Scott Sheldon of Flynn Picture Co. Jared Bush, who wrote the screenplay for the animated film, will also take part in the production, along with Samoan industry pro Dana Ledoux Miller.

Moana tells the story of a young Pacific Islander who teams up with the demigod Maui to set things right after Maui accidentally unleashes an ancient curse. The animated film grossed almost $644 million worldwide and earned two Oscar nominations upon its release in 2016. The live-action adaptation will once again celebrate the culture and traditions of Pacific Islanders through the eyes of a young woman determined to forge her own path.

Walt Disney Studios’ President of Motion Picture Production, Sean Bailey, noted that Moana is part of a growing roster of live-action films based on Disney animated titles. Other examples include 2019’s Aladdin and 2017’s Beauty and the Beast. The forthcoming Little Mermaid, which opens on May 26, will join this list.

Johnson, who voiced the character of Maui in the animated film, said that he is “deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude” to bring Moana to the live-action big screen. He called the story “emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength” and spoke of the honor of returning to the fictional world to set sail with Moana once again. Cravalho, meanwhile, said that Moana’s strength and perseverance are inspiring and that she is looking forward to sharing her story in a whole new way.

Although it is still early in development, the announcement has generated a lot of excitement among fans of the original film. With the talented team behind it, it seems that the live-action version of Moana will be another success for Disney.