Disney’s latest princess adventure has finally cast its lead: 14-year-old Auli’i Cravalho will be providing the voice of the titular Polynesian princess in Moana. She joins Dwayne Johnson, who was confirmed to be voicing demi-god Maui earlier this year.
In an interview with People, Cravalho from Oahu said: “Moana is such an amazing character. She’s brave, she is so empowered, she knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it, and I think that’s something that I can relate to as well.
“I just love watching how she goes along in this wonderful movie and grows as a person and helps her culture along the way.”
The film is directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. Read Disney’s official synopsis for Moana here:
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast South Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped — and no one today knows why.
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes Moana, a sweeping, CG-animated adventure about a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished quest. During her journey, she meets the once-mighty demi-god Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), and together, they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous fiery creatures and impossible odds.
Moana is in UK cinemas from 2 December 2016. Get all the latest fantasy news with every issue of SciFiNow.