We know that Dwayne Johnson is playing demi god Maui and Auli‘i Cravalho will be the title character in Disney's latest, Moana. Now there is confirmation of some of the other roles, with Nicole Scherzinger, Jemaine Clement, Temuera Morrison, Rachel House and, of course, Alan Tudyk all contributing.
Courtesy of a new look at the film by USA Today, the world at large is now aware that Scherzinger and Morrison are Moana's mother Sina and father Tui, the latter the chief of their home (Motunui island) and an overprotective sort who dislikes his daughter's craving for adventure. Then there's House's Gramma Tala, who is closer to Moana than either parent, and who indulges her travelling spirit despite everyone seeing her as the village's crazy old lady.
Also among Moana's friends are Pua, a non-speaking pig who serves as her constant companion, and the bird-brained Heihei (below), who will be brought to life by Tudyk using a combination of rooster crows and other squawks. It's a reassuring presence, given that Tudyk has become the Mouse House's good luck charm on its animation projects, having voiced characters since Frozen.
Then there is the villainous side of the film, partly personified by Clement's Tamatoa, a 50-foot-long crab who has a history with Maui and is currently in possession of the demi-god's powerful fish hook. Suffice to say, there's beef. Does that make their rivalry surf and turf?
Finally, we have a coconut monster creatures the Kakamora, who prove to be an early threat. Moana, which finds the young woman setting out on a vital voyage to help her people, will also feature the vocal talents of Hamilton veteran Phillipa Soo, with Disney stalwarts Ron Clements and John Musker directing. The movie will be out in the UK on December 2.