Lagaʻaia spoke about the personal significance of stepping into the role, stating:
It was really special because I grew up with her. So she was somebody that I idolized, and I feel like I put her on this pedestal that she kind of was so far away from who I was; she was who I wanted to be.
Dwayne Johnson expressed his pride in the project's representation of Polynesian culture.
To be able to showcase our Polynesian culture in this way has really been a real honor. You wanna be protective, because the animated film was so good.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who penned the music for the original 2016 animated film, returns for the live-action adaptation and has written a new song for the project.
It was all about finding the right moment. Stephen Sondheim had a quote: I’m not scared of writing a bad song, I’m scared of writing the wrong song.
The song really takes the form of advice. I mean, in a lot of ways, Auliʻi represents the inner voice that Moana is looking for the entire time.
Lagaʻaia commented on the experience of singing with Cravalho:
Getting to sing alongside someone that you grew up with. I mean, to me, Auli’i is a legend.
Johnson also received a new verse for the song, with Miranda noting his readiness:
DJ was like, you better write me a verse. He’s been rapping you’re welcome for nine years. He was ready for a new verse.
Every one of us, when we get to reach the shore, for me it was Cerro Gordo in Vega Alta Puerto Rico, there’s those hours you’re playing out on the beach where you feel like you have your own private relationship with the waves.
Lagaʻaia shared her own memories:
Hours and hours spent, you know, burying my brother in sand or throwing my sister in the ocean. Very fond memories of having that sense of play that I think our water really encapsulates.
Featured names
- Dwayne Johnson
- Catherine Laga
- Manuel Miranda
- Stephen Sondheim
- Sunbeam Television
