Disney is doubling down on its strategy of retelling big-screen animated classics in live action. But this time, it hasn’t gone as far back in the time machine.

The studio has started developing a live-action remake of 2016’s CG-animated princess pic Moana (pictured). Inspired by Polynesian mythology, the original film stars a plucky teen girl who sets out on a voyage with the demigod Maui to lift a curse and help save her people. 

Moana has grossed US$644 million globally, and was among the top 15 movies streamed on Disney+ in the US last year, according to Disney.

Actor Dwayne Johnson, who is half-Samoan, voiced the character Maui in the animated film and will reprise his role in the remake. Also returning is screenwriter Jared Bush, who will work on the live-action script with Dana Ledoux Miller, who is of Samoan heritage as well.

Johnson will produce the pic with Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia under his Seven Bucks Productions (Black Adam) banner alongside Beau Flynn from Flynn Picture Company (Jungle Cruise). Actor Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced the animated Moana, is also attached to executive produce with Flynn Picture’s Scott Sheldon.

Over the past decade, Disney has adapted several of its animated film classics as live-action remakes, putting out at least one such release a year since 2014. These titles include Cinderella (2015), Mulan (2020) and The Little Mermaid, which is due to hit theaters next month.

This strategy has proven to be lucrative so far. The 2019 remake of The Lion King has earned US$1.6 billion globally, and now stands as Walt Disney Pictures’ highest-grossing film of all time. Beyond the studio’s own records, it’s also among the top 50 highest-grossing movies at the worldwide box office, along with other Disney live-action remakes of Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Aladdin (2019).