[Sportschosun reporter Ahn So-yoon] The film Moana is coming to theaters this summer with a cast that closely matches the characters.
A video press conference for Moana was held on the 29th. Actor Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga'aia, and director Thomas Kail attended the event.
Set to open on July 8, Moana is a live-action adaptation of the animated film of the same name. It follows the girl chosen by the sea, Moana, as she sets out into the unknown ocean with the legendary hero Maui to save an island cursed by a spell. Directed by Thomas Kail, who won 11 awards at the 70th Tony Awards for Hamilton: An American Musical, the film was produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who composed many of the original soundtrack songs, including the signature track "How Far I'll Go."
Catherine Laga'aia, who has Samoan heritage, said both of her grandparents were from Savai'i in the South Pacific and the Samoan Islands, the setting for Moana. She said, "I wanted to pay tribute to Moana in 2016. At the time of its release, I thought it was a wonderful character that represented women from Pacific island nations." She added, "I grew up watching great characters like this, so I was able to become someone who could share a representative character with many people. I have admired Moana's boldness, bravery, and curiosity, and I wanted to act while emphasizing those qualities. I think Moana and I are alike in many ways."
She also explained why she felt even more attached to the character, saying, "Leaving a place I know well, a place I can call home, and going somewhere new is a challenge, so I could relate to Moana." She continued, "There is a scene in the film where Moana decides to leave and connects with her mother. I related even more strongly to the moment when her mother reassures her, saying, 'You know who you are, and you know the path you must take.' When I left home to film, my mother told me, 'You probably know very well what you are meant to do.' I tried to relate to that feeling of trembling uncertainty and bring it to life as best I could."
In particular, Catherine Laga'aia landed the role of Moana after beating odds of 32,000-to-1 in the audition process. Director Thomas Kail said, "So many actors applied for the role of Moana," adding, "Catherine seems to have realized it relatively recently, but as an actor, she was clearly looking for qualities that are difficult to perform."
He then explained why she was chosen for the role, saying, "She sang 'How Far I'll Go' and performed two scenes, and I still vividly remember the emotion from that moment. She sang well, but I felt that she truly understood the emotion. I stood up from my chair right away and said, 'I think we've found Moana.'"
"Dwayne Johnson had already been cast as Maui," he added. "We were looking for an actress who could match Maui's essence and presence, and the moment Catherine walked into the room, we all nodded immediately."
Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his animated voice role as the legendary hero Maui, said, "Honestly, what I wanted to emphasize in the live-action film was vulnerability. Just like in the animation, Maui is playful and confident in the live-action version as well. He is also brave, funny, and charming, with beautiful hair and singing talent, so many people think of him that way. But because he is human at his core, I wanted to add a sense of human authenticity to each scene."
He added, "Since he represents a real culture and real people, I wanted to show that Maui expresses masculinity but also has vulnerability. Like actors, people often find it hard to show weakness as it is. But I respected Maui for being able to reveal his vulnerability. Even though being abandoned as a baby must have been painful, it is beautiful that the moment he honestly reveals that wound comes through Moana. I think it is special that Moana sees Maui's inner self. It felt like Moana kept saying, 'Show who you are inside,' and I think that chemistry comes through well in the film."
He also shared a message for Korean audiences at the end. Johnson said, "I have visited Korea many times and had several films released here. Moana is a film that we are releasing with great pride. I hope many Korean fans will watch it." He continued, "I think Polynesian culture is not very different from Korean culture, and I believe there are many values that can be shared in Korea, so I really hope people will see it. This summer, it will be a beautiful and grand film, a perfect summer movie."
Ahn So-yoon, antahn22@sportschosun.com
