A friend and I were just talking about this and an interesting theory came up. Could the delay in the announcement of the casting be due to a possible RE-casting? If whoever was cast is proving to give them unsatisfactory results or the production has gone in a different direction then anticipated, is there any likely hood they could be second guessing themselves on their choice?
While it's not a musical and not TECHNICALLY Walt Disney Animation, Pixar made a big misstep with the casting of The Good Dinosaur recently. They announced a full all star cast only to change directions on the film and ended up totally recasting every actor but one a year before release.
Could Disney be trying to save itself from a PR nightmare of recasting a Disney Princess after announcing her voice?
They've done it before. Kristin Chenoweth was originally announced to voice Rapunzel before the project moved in a different direction and ended up being replaced by Mandy Moore.
Even if it the girl was to end up playing Moana, this particularly lie makes no sense. Why would Taylor Swift, someone with no ties to Disney, announce casting news for one of their movies before them especially when D23 just happen earlier today
I think the lack of news on who's playing Moana might actually signals more to them choosing a newcomer. I've read that Disney really wants an actor of Polynesian/Pacific Island descent and unfortunately there aren't that many in Hollywood already. It's possible that they set their sights on a couple of potential newcomers and didn't feel rush to announce it at D23 cause it wasn't a big star.
I was at the D23 panel that presented this movie. It looks beautiful! Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was on hand to promote the film and talk about playing the demigod character of Maui. In addition to the live musical performance that is excerpted in that youtube clip posted above, the presentation featured some lovely clips from the film. One involved the depiction of the ocean itself as a character, including a flashback to the character of Moana as a baby and her first very playful, loving interactions with the ocean. There was also a visually stunning clip of Moana and a witch (goddess?) made out of lava (a still from that scene is posted above). Very excited for this!
Ron Clements and John Musker did confirm that Dinah Jane auditioned but she was one out of 400 girls that did. They also said that they're still going through the audition tapes and they hope to make an announcement soon
Not sure if he can, but he didn't in the live presentation. The clip they showed was of his character, Maui, meeting Moana, and it didn't involve him singing either.
Starship said: "Dwayne Johnson had dinner with Dinah to celebrate her album going platinum. Interesting..."
That's HALF the truth, but NOT whole truth. The dinner this past week was NOT for Hansen's Album. It's mentioned but that was not the reason they were together. They were together to celetrate Johnson's DAUGHTER's Birthday. Apparently the two girls are as close as sisters....
From a picture of the three of them on Johnson's instagram this past Wednesday (Aug 19): “Had a blast with my girls! Bringing in my daughter Simone’s birthday with endless love and crazy fun and celebrating with her sis @dinahjane97 of FIFTH HARMONY’s album going PLATINUM and their new VMA nomination. Crazy thing is with all the cool success that surrounds these two, they’re the most grateful, humble and hard working young girls around. #ProudPapaBear #LoveYall #BirthdayGal #WorthItVMA #AndTheyAreAlsoToughAsHellToo.”
Which leads to the question.... what came first? Were Hansen and Johnson's daughter friends BEFORE the Moana rumors started but no one took notice because there was no reason to? Is that even possibly how she got an audition via her BFFs father in the first place? Or did her possible involvement in Moana lead to the two girls meeting, connecting, and very rapidly becoming best friends?
Do people (outside her hardcore fans) really want Dinah to be Moana? I'm just curious because I don't get it. But I also only heard her sing once and it was at award show so...
I only really looked into Dinah Jane's voice after hearing the Moana rumors of late and I really don't think she is the best fit after they have made such a BIG deal about how authentic the movie is going to be. I mean yes she is of a Polynesian heritage but her voice is that of an R&B/Pop vocalist. If the movie really wants to go all out for it's sound (as that REALLY promising music sample from D23 shows) they should get someone that is well versed in that style of music. With only a year and a few months left to get the voice in the can, they will need someone that they don't need to retrain to the style as well. Time is closing in fast on this movie.
Not to mention, this is a PERFECT opportunity to revolve their marketing campaign around the headline of "Staring Dwyane 'The Rock' Johnson and introducing......" Can't you just SEE the behind the scenes special for 'the making of Moana' now? Where they take you to meet the voice of Moana living on the islands and how her culture and upbringing is the same as that of her the character. And playing clips of the movie with the authentic dancing and music mixed with footage of the actress dancing in the same fashion. They would be really dumb to pass up that kind of marketing opportunity to create a really magical Disney story within their own story to please the rabid fans of 5th Harmony.
Of the two girls (who it should be noted Disney fans were gushing over long before Dinah Jane's name was mentioned and "Harmonizers" took over) personally I favor the really unique style of Makamae's voice but she might play a little older then 16
I don't know which came first but the first mention of Dinah and Simone being friends was only at the end of the last month. It's just a little eyebrow raising that suddenly Dwayne is friends with only 1 of 5 members of a teen pop group (who just so happens to be Polynesian and a contender for Moana) and invites her to his film premiere. It could be one big coincidence, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's high up there on the list.
I'm not too familiar with 5H but I do prefer Dinah than the other candidates who have posted on YouTube. I think it also helps that she has a built in fan base already and is experienced with the mass media attention that will come with being a new Disney princess.
You can't trust IMDB because it, much like Wikipedia, can be edited by pretty much anyone. In the same way Harmonizers created fake news twitters and spread the fake "official" announcement that she was Moana during D23, they very likely edited the Moana listing on IMDB as well.
And there in lies how my response to the early rumors went from being possibly okay with her being cast to this point where I DON'T want it to happen. I can't stand the fans at this point and I just want them to go away and not be related to this film that is looking to be one of the best Disney has had in years.