“Moana 2,” the animated sequel from Disney, will open in theaters on Nov. 27 this year.
The film originally was set to stream on Disney+, but the casting was vague then, mostly focusing on Dwayne Johnson repeating his role as Maui, the demi-god.
Auli‘i Cravalho, the Kamehameha Schools student who voiced the original film when she was 14, earlier declined to continue as the titular character in the sequel, but ultimately returned to repeat the role that launched her film career.
Auli’i Cravalho, left, will recreate Moana’s voice, and will co-produce an upcoming live-action “Moana” film but won’t be in it.
“Moana 2” was directed by David G. Derek Jr., with music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.
Meanwhile, the live action “Moana” also will emerge as a theatrical film, with the aforementioned Dwayne Johnson recreating his Maui role.
A young actress has yet to be named to play Moana, since Cravalho would be too old now, to recreate her cartoon character. However, she will be an exec producer of the live-action project, which will be directed by Thomas Kail, pictured left, of “Hamilton” fame, with casting still under way, and filming set from June to September in Atlanta . Johnson also will also earn co- producer credit.
The live-action film is pegged to premiere June 27, 2025. …
Emme’s celebratory moment set for April 27
A Celebration of Life for Emme Tomimbang Burns is slated from 3 to 7 p.m. April 27 at the FilCom Center in Waipahu. Full details are still being finalized.
Tomimbang Burns died Feb. 19 at Queen’s Medical Center, while undergoing open heart surgery. She was 73 and a pioneering figure in the Filipino community, best known as a journalist and the producer, anchor and host of her TV magazine franchise, “Emme’s Island Moment”…
Broadway grosses, for week ending Feb. 25
“Wicked,” which has been bridesmaid to “The Lion King” for quite a spell, last week switched positions with the Disney show, claiming the No. 1 slot of top Broadway shows with grosses topping $2 million.
Here are the Top 10 grossing shows, courtesy The Broadway Guild:
1—”Wicked,” $2,017 million.
2—“The Lion King,” $2,004 million.
3—”Hamilton,” $1,876 million.
4—”Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,566 million.
5—”MJ The Musical,” $1,478 million.
6—”Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” $1,424 million.
7—”Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,350 million.
8—”Aladdin,” $1,340 million.
9-“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,298 million.
10—”& Juliet,” $1,137 million.
Here’s the full roster of the Broadway attractions:
And that’s Show Biz…