Moviefone Editorial

Tag: aulii-cravalho

  • ‘How I Met Your Mother’s Josh Radnor Leads ‘Drama High’

    Josh Radnor“How I Met Your Mother” alum Josh Radnor will play an inspirational drama teacher in the NBC pilot “Drama High,” Variety reports, and his students will include “Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho.

    Radnor’s character, Lou Mazzuchelli, is based on Lou Volpe, who took over the drama department in his Pennyslvania town and galvanized the entire community as described in the book that was also called “Drama High.” The book by Volpe’s former student Michael Sokolove has been described as ‘”Glee” meets “Friday Night Lights.”‘

    Not coincidentally, the creator of “Friday Night Lights,” Jason Katims, will be exec-producing with “Hamilton” producer Jeffrey Seller.

    Besides Cravalho, Shannon Purser (Barb on “Stranger Things”) will play one of Radnor’s students. Rosie Perez will also star.

    Since “How I Met Your Mother” wrapped in 2014, Radnor starred in PBS’s Civil War drama “Mercy Street,” which was cancelled after just two seasons.

  • Dwayne Johnson’s Maui Tries Hard to Impress in ‘Moana’ Teaser Trailer

    In "Moana," Walt Disney Animation Studios' upcoming big-screen adventure, a spirited teenager named Moana (left) sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder. Along the way, she meets once-mighty demi-god Maui (right). Featuring Native Hawaiian newcomer Auli'i Cravalho as the voice of Moana, and Dwayne Johnson as the voice of Maui, "Moana" sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016. ©2015 Disney. All Rights Reserved.What’s a demigod gotta do to impress the tough crowd of a young girl and her pig pal? How about magically transform into a pueo? That was pretty cool!

    On June 12, Disney shared the official teaser trailer for “Moana,” which comes out this Thanksgiving. It’s very much a teaser in that it mostly focuses on Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) telling his own story to the unimpressed Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) and a pig. But there are flashes of the adventure ahead — including Maui’s cool transformation into that Hawaiian owl — and we get a taste of the chill-but-catchy music, with songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina.

    Watch the teaser:
    Maui seems like a lot of fun, but hopefully the next teaser focuses more on the title character.

    Here’s the official Disney synopsis:

    “Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows why.

    From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes ‘Moana,’ a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.”

    “Moana,” directed by Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) will be released into U.S. theaters on November 23, 2016.

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  • Disney Casts Newest Princess, Moana

    DisneyDisney’s newest princess has finally found her voice.

    After an exhaustive search, the studio has cast 14-year-old native Hawaiian, Auli’i Cravalho, in “Moana,” which is due in theaters in November 2016. “From baby time to now, I wanted to be a Disney princess and then I wanted to be a singer or an actress,” Cravalho told People.

    The titular character is a teen girl living some 2,000 years ago, who sets out on an arduous sea journey to prove herself as a master navigator. Along the way, she meets demi-god Maui (Dwayne Johnson), who accompanies her as they face enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.

    In this video, Cravalho learns she’s won the role of a lifetime:
    Her co-star, Johnson, welcomed her to the team:

    Cravalho is excited to work with The Rock — but even more excited to hear him sing. Because, yes, “Moana” is a musical! “I’ve never heard him sing before so it’s going to be really interesting!”

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