'Moana' Director: 'Found Her the Moment Catherine Logiia Walked into the Audition Room'

Director Thomas Kail described the casting of Catherine Logiia as Moana as a moment of immediate recognition. "As soon as Catherine came into the room, we all nodded and thought we found her," Kail said during an online press conference for the live-action film.

Logiia, who has Samoan and Taiwanese heritage, was chosen from over 32,000 applicants. Kail recalled her audition performance of "How Far I Go" and two other scenes, stating, "She not only sang well, but she also deeply understood the emotion, remembering the desire to go beyond the reef." He emphasized that the actor needed to match the presence of Dwayne Johnson, who was already cast as Maui.

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As soon as Catherine came into the room, we all nodded and thought we we found her.

Johnson, who voiced Maui in the 2016 animated film, returns to the role for the live-action adaptation. The story follows Moana, a young Polynesian princess, as she embarks on a daring mission to save her people with the help of the demigod Maui. The original animated film and its sequel have garnered significant global success, with a cumulative audience of 5.86 million in South Korea and over $1.7 billion in worldwide box office revenue.

The live-action "Moana" is scheduled for release on July 8, promising a visually stunning ocean adventure.

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She not only sang well, but she also deeply understood the emotion, remembering the desire to go beyond the reef.