WILL IRVINE (HE/HIM)
Have you ever thought: “man, I love Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, but I wish I could see MORE of his pecs?”. Well, dear readers, do we have news for you. Salient is pleased to report that preparations for Disney’s live-action Moana are well underway.
Moana, referred to by many as “the greatest film of all time”, tells the story of a young girl from an unidentified Pacific Island who goes on a mighty quest to restore the heart of Te Fiti, all while facing dangers from the evil Te Ka (and a mischievous crab played by Jermaine Clement).
In the upcoming live-action adaptation, The Rock will reprise his role as the trickster god Maui, while the role of Moana will be taken by newcomer Catherine Laga’aia, who was found in a global audition process for the perfect lead actress. Laga’aia, 17, is the daughter of actor and singer Jay Laga’aia, who is well-known among nerds and losers for his role as Captain Typho in the Star Wars prequels. Salient predicts massive lines as moviegoers across the world queue to see The Rock perform his famous “You’re Welcome” dance.
Alongside the development of a live-action Moana, work is underway on Moana 2, which follows our titular heroine as she attempts to connect all the Pacific Islands. While little is known about the plot of this movie, this author would personally like to see Moana square off against Captain James Cook in a final battle to save her island. Much like its live-action counterpart, this film, too, will include the singing and dancing talents of the 21st century’s greatest performer, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Johnson, who is reportedly considering a run for US President in 2028 or 2032, said that the story of Moana “is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people's grace and warrior strength… There is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.”