Moana's Auliʻi Cravalho says the words 'princess' and 'hero' are now interchangeable
Moana 2 is in cinemas now!
The voice-actress behind one of Disney's most beloved characters says Moana is "at the forefront of a conversation where the words princess and hero are interchangeable." Auliʻi Cravalho, who voices the tenacious waterbabe, joined Angellica, James, and Matt on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show to talk all things Moana 2.
The sequel to Disney's huge blockbuster, set off the Pacific Ocean, was released in cinemas on Friday 29th November — and has already set records for its viewings. Auliʻi tells us why she feels the movie embodies growth...
“It’s been three years since we’ve last seen Moana. And if our last film was about connecting with the past, this film is about connecting with the future. And there’s a real theme of growth," said Auliʻi.
The actress, who also starred in the 2024 Mean Girls movie, told us how her voice has changed since she voiced the first instalment of Moana:
“I do other voice work as well, but Moana was my first. I was cast when I was 14. I just turned 24 a few days ago. But I’ve had this character in my bones for the last 10 years, so it isn’t too difficult to get back to her.
“I remember being a little worried that I’d have to pitch up my voice for the entirety of the sequel. But thankfully she is the first Disney princess to age on screen, and my voice gets to age along with her, which is very nice.”
Watch the trailer for Moana 2...
When asked who is more powerful, a Demigod or a woman on a mission, Auliʻi told Angellica, James, and Matt: "A woman on a mission, because he was stuck on an island before I showed up!" Of course, she's referring to Moana character Maui, shapeshifter and Demigod, voiced by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
She also spoke about the children she meets — and how they sometimes don't believe she's the voice of Moana: "I really love it though when they're at that special age — and I feel like Santa sometimes, where they do believe then that I am Moana. And that feeling like, it takes over my whole body and I'm like 'Yes! Do you want me to sing, do you want me to dance?!' Ah I adore children. And I love that Moana is such a role model for young men and women."
The self-confessed real-life waterbaby also revealed to the Hits Breakfast team that she trained for the USA swim team and competed in paddling competitions as a youngster. Sounds like Auliʻi was made for the part!
When is Moana 2 in cinemas?
It arrived in cinemas on 29th November 2024.
Now check out these Disney movies which are getting a live-action remake...including Moana!
Moana
Release date: 10th July 2026
Remake of: Moana (2016)
Dwayne Johnson confirmed in a sweet video in April 2023 that he would be reprising his role as demigod Maui in a live-action remake of Moana! His co-star from the 2016 original, Auli'I Cravalho, also confirmed that she would be returning to the franchise, but later announced that she would not be reprising her role as the titular character and instead be taking on a producer role. Catherine Laga'aia was announced to have been cast as Moana in June 2024 - and we caught a first glimpse of her as Moana in November 2025 when the first teaser trailer dropped... AND her beautiful voice!
Hercules
Status: Announced
Remake of: Hercules (1997)
Hercules is in line for a live-action remake, with Joe and Anthony Russo AKA The Russo Brothers - best known for being the brains behind Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War - will produce the film, but not direct it. Guy Ritchie was attached to direct initially, but it's since been rumoured that he's left the project.
Writing the script will be Dave Callaham, who wrote the Expendables film series and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as well as Wonder Woman 1984 and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2. In April 2024, the Russo brothers confirmed they had not yet had a script for the project, but that it was still happening.
Although it's still too early to confirm any cast members, fans are keen for Miss 'God is a Woman' herself, Ariana Grande, to take on the role of Megara, following the singer's cover of 'I Won't Say I'm in Love' during The Disney Family Singalong in 2020.
Tangled
Status: Announced
Remake of: Tangled (2011)
It's fair to say that Disney's animated hit film Tangled has become a modern classic, so it's no surprise it's getting the live-action treatment. The original film's starring voice-actors Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore even keen on a live-action remake, suggesting who they think would be good for the lead roles - as well as how they could even feature as a cameo.
In December 2024, it was reported that a script had allegedly been 'drafted', with The Greatest Showman and Better Man director Michael Gracey reportedly having 'entered negotiations' to take on the film, and in October 2025 it was rumoured that Scarlett Johansson could be taking on the role of Mother Gothel.
Bambi
Status: Announced
Remake of: Bambi (1942)
Again, not much is known about this remake so far, but it reported that it will be made with CGI just like The Jungle Book and The Lion King.
Confirming the remake, Variety reported that screenwriters Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Lindsey Beer (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser) will write the screenplay, with Chris and Paul Weitz's Depth of Field producing.
Lilo & Stitch 2
Status: Announced
Remake of: Lilo & Stich 2 (2005)
Following the success of the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch in 2025, Disney were quick to confirm the second movie would be getting the same treatment, with the cast set to return.
Maleficent 3
Status: Announced
Sequel to: Maleficent (2014) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2021)
So far, we know that the first draft of a script had been confirmed in September 2021, with Angelina Jolie herself confirm at a panel in November 2021 that she would return for a third film. It was officially announced in December 2023, and screenwriter Linda Woolverton was reported to be still working on the project in March 2025.
Robin Hood
Status: Rumoured
Remake of: Robin Hood (1973)
Rumours began swirling in April 2020 that Disney were planning to tackle Robin Hood for the live-action treatment. According to Empire Online, the corporation will be remaking the beloved fox and bear combo of Robin Hood and Little John - but will they keep them as animals or turn them into people? Only time will tell.
The publication reports that Carlos Lopez Estrada has signed on as director, having previously worked on the likes of Blindspotting and Billie Eilish's music video for 'When the Party's Over', and that the script will be written by Kari Granlund, who wrote the recent remake of Lady and the Tramp, and also worked on Godmothered - another Disney film starring Isla Fisher.
Beauty and the Beast prequel series
Status: Rumoured
Remake of: Beauty and the Beast (1991) and sequel to Beauty and the Beast (2017)
There's a new series in the pipeline, a sequel about the character Le Fou from Beauty and the Beast! Fans will remember the character being a lapdog to Gaston, a potential love interest of Belle - the eponymous Beauty.
In the live-action remake, actor Josh Gad played the character as gay and had an unrequited love for Gaston, and the new series is going to focus on these two characters as a prequel before the events of the Beauty and the Beast film.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Once Upon a Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz will be writing the show, and it's been described as a "six-episode musical event". Composer Alan Menken will also return to write new music.
Aladdin 2
Status: Shelved
Remake of: Sequel to Aladdin (2019)
In February 2020, it was announced that Disney were pursuing a sequel to the live-action Aladdin, which was released in 2019. The only confirmation has been that writers Andrea Berloff and John Gatins would return to the project, but there's no word on whether the cast or director, Guy Ritchie, will be reuniting. It was also reported that the new film would not take any inspiration from the original animated film's sequels: Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and would be a totally new story.
In September 2021, Mena Massoud, who starred in the 2019 film, told Screen Rant: "They're working on it. They're trying to make it happen. That's really all I know. As you know, usually actors are the last piece of the puzzle, so the studio has got a lot to worry about before they start thinking about the actors. Obviously, I would hope that all of us come back and Naomi, Will and I all come back and the rest of the cast, Marwan, Navid, Nasim, everybody. But right now, as far as I know, they're just working on the script and trying to make it happen."
As of 2025, there haven't been any developments on the film. Disney were also reportedly looking into a prequel for Aladdin entitled Genies, focusing on Will Smith's character - although he wasn't linked to the project. However, that was scrapped in May 2021. There's also a rumoured spin-off, to focus on the character of Prince Anders from the 2019 film starring Billy Magnussen.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Status: Shelved
Remake of: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
In January 2019, a live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame was announced after actor Josh Gad revealed he was helming the new project. Josh, who is the voice of Olaf the Snowman in the Frozen film franchise and starred in the live-action remake of The Beauty and the Beast in 2017, revealed that he'd taken a trip to Paris in January 2019 to research the film.
Posting a photo of himself under the famous Notre Dame cathedral in the French capital city, he cryptically wrote: 'Sing the bells, bells, bells Bells, bells, bells, bells, bells...'
The remake was confirmed by People magazine, with Deadline later revealing that original composer Alan Menken was set to team up with Stephen Schwartz to write the music. The original 1996 film was very loosely based on the original 1831 novel by Victor Hugo, and was given the Disney treatment to remove some of the heavier topics from the book - although is still considered to be one of the darker Disney films.
However, in a 2023 interview, Alan Menken revealed that the Hunchback remake would not go ahead as it would be too difficult to navigate the subject matter.
The Aristocats
Status: Shelved
Remake of: The Aristocats (1970)
A live-action remake of The Aristocats was in the pipeline with The Roots member Questlove directing - unfortunately, he confirmed in August 2025 that it was no longer happening. Not much else was known about the film, other than it would have been a mix of live-action performances and CGI.
Now read:
All the details we know so far about Disney's upcoming live-action remakes
All of the Disney films out in 2024 and beyond
First trailer released for Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King