"Sure things" are a rarity in Holllywood, but Disney's latest animated adventure Moana looks to be one of them. Hailing from the Oscar-nominated writer/director duo of Ron Clements and John Musker, and featuring the voicework of newcomer Auli'i Cravalho opposite superstar Dwayne Johnson, this Pacific-set high-seas story features a kick-ass heroine, a bevy of comedic-yet-capabale companions, magic entwined with mythology, absolutely jaw-dropping visuals, and what sounds like an incredible soundtrack, thanks in part to a fellow by the name of Lin-Manuel Miranda. All of this is on display in a fantastic new trailer for the upcoming film. What more can you ask for?

Also starring Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, and Alan Tudyk, look for Moana in theaters starting November 23rd.


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And for those of you who want to get a jump on all sorts of Moana trivia, take a look at these tidbits:

  • Filmmakers auditioned hundreds of talented young women throughout the Pacific Islands before finding the gifted Native Hawaiian Auli‘i Cravalho, who did not initially pursue the coveted role. The film’s Hawai‘i-based casting director recalled her singing performance from a video submission for a fundraiser/talent showcase and asked Auli‘i to come in and try out. Three auditions later, including her first trip to Burbank, Calif., she earned the title role, thanks to raw talent.
  • The diverse and dynamic team behind the film’s inspired music includes Tony®- and Grammy®-winning lyricist/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who’s behind Broadway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning and multiple Tony-winning “Hamilton” and the Tony-winning “In the Heights,” and is a 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award recipient. Three-time Grammy®-winning composer Mark Mancina created memorable scores for films like “Speed,” “Tarzan” and the Oscar®-winning “Training Day,” and also co-wrote songs, produced and arranged the score for Broadway’s musical production of “The Lion King.” Opetaia Foa‘i, the founder and lead singer of Te Vaka, is a winner of numerous world music awards, including the Senior Pacific Artist award for his contribution to Pacific music.
  • Directors Ron Clements and John Musker made their writing-directing debut on the 1986 feature “The Great Mouse Detective.” They went on to write and direct some of Disney’s most beloved animated classics, including the undersea adventure “The Little Mermaid” in 1989, the hilarious hit “Aladdin” in 1992, 1997’s epic comedy “Hercules” and, most recently, 2009’s “The Princess and the Frog.”

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