Auliʻi Cravalho Says ‘Moana 2’ Is “Really Like Coming Home”
When audiences were first introduced to Moana in 2016, the young wayfinder had not entirely found her stride. After taking to the sea and sailing beyond the waters of Motunui, however, Moana proved to be both a hero, and the leader that her people desperately needed.
The upcoming Moana 2 will catch up with the titular heroine three years after the event of the first film. Now, an older sister, Moana, will once again take to the sea. This time, her goal is to reconnect the people of Oceania.
Photo: Disney
“Before Maui stole Te Fitit’s heart, our ancestors wanted to connect our island to all the people of the entire ocean. It’s my job as a Wayfinder to finish what they started,” Moana explains in the film’s first trailer.
Auli’i Cravalho Explains Moana’s Growth
In a recent interview with Empire, Auli’i Cravalho discussed how Moana has changed since we last saw her.
Photo: Billboard
“Moana is now a master voyager,” she explained. “She’s trying to answer the question of, ‘Are there more people out there?’”
Like the Wayfinder herself, Cravalho has expanded her horizons since she first rose to fame in 2016. Still, despite her travels, the actress says she hasn’t lost touch with Moana.
Photo: Disney
“It’s really like coming home… I don’t have to do anything to get back into voicing her,” she says. “[Moana] and I are still super-tight. I understand her.”
Passing the Torch
While Cravalho will return to star in Moana 2, she will not reprise her role in next year’s live-action Moana. In that film, Catherine Laga’aia will play the titular role. Unlike Cravalho, who is Hawaiian, Laga’aia has Samoan heritage.
According to Cravalho, the filmmakers may consider that difference in the upcoming film.
Photo: The Hollywood Reporter
“[Laga’aia]’s got her own history and I think that’s going to come across on screen,” Cravalho explains.
Moana 2 will hit theaters on November 27. 2024.
