Interviews
Lin-Manuel Miranda Talks ‘Moana’ & Working With Dwayne Johnson
Moana hits theaters this week.
Dave Morales sat down with Moana star Lin-Manuel Miranda in this backstage interview to talk about the upcoming animation, working with Dwayne Johnson and more.
“I got this job way before any of the Hamilton stuff happened,” said Miranda. “I was so thrilled to tell the Moana story. One – to represent a part of the world that never sees themselves represented on screen; the Pacific Islands and their incredible culture. Two – because she’s so cool and so brave. She’s not looking for a boyfriend, she’s looking to save the world.”
As for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s impressive singing voice, Miranda said, “He trained for it like he trained for Fast Furious 8. He came in ready.”
The film’s synopsis:
An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she always sought: her own identity.
The film features music written by Miranda, score creator Mark Mancina and musician Opetaia Foaʻi (founder of the world music band Te Vaka). The voice cast includes Auli’I Cravalho as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, Nicole Scherzinger as Moana’s mom and more.
Moana hits theaters on November 23rd. Watch the full interview with Miranda below.
