Catherine Laga'aia had never made a feature film when Disney posted an open casting call on Instagram. She was 19. She is Samoan Australian, with roots in Savai'i. She beat 32,000 applicants. Then Disney handed her a paddle.
Laga'aia trained with Captain Nakoa Prejean on a real traditional Polynesian sailing canoe to learn the wayfinding and navigation that Moana does on screen. Every scene where she grips the sail or reads the stars, that is a skill she was taught.
The original voice of Moana, Auliʻi Cravalho, did not return to act. She came back as executive producer, and sings a new original song in the film alongside Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson. The person who defined the character is now the one handing it off.
People on Backlot are watching it. It is in theaters now.
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