Moana remake – The Rock’s Maui based on his Bond villain star grandpa | Films | Entertainment

It’s only been seven years since Moana hit cinemas and now Disney has announced this month that a live-action remake is already in the works.

Dwayne Johnson, who reprising Maui said upon the film’s announcement: “I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen.

This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength.

“I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me.”

READ MORE: WATCH: Disney’s official Moana trailer with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

Disney fans will remember Maui is the demigod with a giant fish hook that allows him to shape-shift into different animals.

He’s based on The Rock’s grandfather Peter Maivia, who was a Samoan-American professional wrestler and actor just like his grandson Dwayne.

The Samoan High Chief, who died in 1982 of cancer at just 45, played a James Bond villain opposite Sean Connery.

Maivia portrayed a driver in 1967’s You Only Live Twice who transported a disguised Bond to Osato headquarters.

During a fight scene with Connery’s 007, Maivia throws Bond through a Japanese screen door, before the MI6 agent picks up a sofa (with incredible ease) to joust him.

Acquiring a samurai sword, The Rock’s grandpa tries to strike a grounded Bond, before 007 flips him over his head. In the end, Connery knocks out the henchman with a stone statue.

Moana live-action remake’s release date is TBC.