With two box office champs taking pivotal roles in Disney’s Oceania-themed, animated "Moana" film, anticipation is high for the Mouse House’s first Polynesian princess.
Dwayne Johnson, a former islander and the magnet behind this year’s "San Andreas" disaster film and a staple in the "Fast & Furious" franchise, will provide the voice of the mythological demigod Maui depicted in island song and dance.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the current darling of Broadway — thanks to his "Hamilton" hit — will provide original music. Miranda won several Tony Awards for "In the Heights," the first hip-hop musical on the Great White Way, and stars in his hip-hop musical about one of America’s founding fathers.
The mash-up could pose a cultural challenge, as Disney sets sail on its first Polynesian project since "Lilo & Stitch." Maui is widely characterized in traditional kahiko and contemporary song, but certainly Johnson has the will and "manao" to portray a Hawaiian superman of popular folklore. And Miranda has become an innovator in creative storytelling. The identity of the actor who will voice the title character has not been revealed.
The part-Samoan Johnson and directors Ron Clements and John Musker, ("The Princess and the Frog," "Aladdin") along with producer Osnat Shurer, appeared Aug. 14 at Disney’s D23 Expo, a convention of Disney fans in Anaheim, Calif., to introduce early footage and art from the animated film, set for release Nov. 23, 2016. The preview included a performance of one of the original "Moana" songs by New Zealander Opetaia Foa’i, lead singer of Te Vaka. Foa’i is collaborating with Miranda and Grammy winner Mark Mancina ("Tarzan," "The Lion King") on the soundtrack.
According to Disney, "Moana" follows a spirited teenager — Moana Waialiki — who sets out to prove herself a master wayfinder. Sketches show her in a South Pacific-style printed outfit — a red crop top and a skirt — as she casts a sassy pose with one hand on her hip. Her father Tui is head of a village and her companions include Pua, a pig, and Hei Hei, a rainbow-hued rooster. The villain appears to be a lava witch with some nasty claws.
"Moana" follows "Mulan" and "Pocahontas" in Disney’s ongoing diversification of princess characters.
Further, Johnson will headline another Disney project, "Jungle Cruise," which transforms the theme park ride to the big screen. John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, the team behind Will Smith‘s recent "Focus" flick, are doing the script, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Indeed, The Rock has become a bankable movie star. …
TRADE WINDS: At the inaugural Hawaii Professional Firefighters Foundation Malama Celebration held recently at The Willows, Willie K and Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom flew in from Maui to perform — and wowed the crowd of 300. The event enabled the nonprofit group to raise funds to support firefighters statewide stricken with cancer from exposure to toxic chemicals, fumes and metals.
Ku Kia’i, comprising firefighters Steve Keawe, Danny Lani, Jaren Luke and Jason Mejia, was a popular opening act, and emcee Rodney Villanueva had the house in stitches. Three longtime boosters of firefighters — Marcia Anton, Raymond Gould and Dr. Lawrence Tseu — were honored. And Andy Friedlander donated his award-winning Andis Wines for all VIP tables, keeping the spirits high. …
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Joy Abbott, who has been summering in Hawaii (though she took a short detour to Las Vegas to catch a bunch of shows), gives another concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Arcadia Retirement Residence. Betty Loo Taylor will provide piano accompaniment, with Abbott sampling the Broadway and Hollywood songbooks of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Hart & Hammerstein, Bock & Harnick, Adler & Ross, Bernstein & Comden & Green, among others. "Most will be familiar, some have become standards," says Abbott. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com. Read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at staradvertiser.com.
