Disney's reliance on its back catalogue of characters and franchises will be underlined again next week with the release of a live-action version of "Moana," a remake of the Polynesian-themed animation hit that is only a decade old.
The original "Moana" from 2016 follows a young Polynesian girl who sets off on an adventure across the ocean, accompanied by the demigod Maui, to save her people and their atoll.
A sequel came out in 2024 and a third animated installment is in the works, while the new live-action version starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will hit screens worldwide from Wednesday.
It is a shot-for-shot rehash of the original, with the same songs and similar dialogue, directed by Thomas Kail of "Hamilton" fame.
"The way that the movie breathes is so different than animation the way that you fill a frame is quite different and I think there's an opportunity to access emotion in a distinct way," he told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
