It was only a matter of time before Walt Disney Animation Studios set its sights on adapting its more recent classics into live-action. Now, a new trailer for Moana offers another glimpse at how the studio is reinterpreting one of its biggest hits, while a new featurette celebrates the live-action reimagining’s artistry.
Continue reading “New Live-Action ‘Moana’ Trailer and Featurette Spotlight Cultural Artistry”
This past year director Dan Trachtenberg, who brought us Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers introduced us to the franchise’s first Yautja protagonist, Dek, in Predator: Badlands! Portrayed by breakout star, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, both Trachtenberg and Koloamatangi infused pathos and complexity into Dek, bringing us something completely different; a sympathetic and richer side to Yautja culture.
Continue reading “Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi Brings ‘Predator: Badlands’ Home”
Disney has released the first trailer for its live-action Moana. It may only be a teaser, but it offers a glimpse of what’s to come and showcases the power in Catherine Lagaʻaia’s voice as she steps into the role of the titular wayfinder.
Continue reading “Live-Action ‘Moana’ Trailer Sets Sail”
Redefining a classic franchise is a difficult thing to do. Countless remakes and reboots of beloved classics from Poltergeist to Child’s Play have withered and died at the cinema. The Predator franchise, specifically, has even seen its share of wasted potential (see Shane Black’s failed attempt from 2018).
Continue reading “NOC Review: ‘Predator: Badlands’ is an Enjoyable Sci-Fi Romp”
It’s incredible to think that in just three years, director Dan Trachtenberg has reinvented the Predator franchise in such a profound way!
Continue reading “Into the ‘Predator: Badlands’ with the Stars and Director of the New Film”
In the Apple TV+ historical drama, Chief of War, the cast is made up of many Polynesian actors; ranging from the hot shot that is Jason Momoa, to industry mainstays like Temuera Morrison and Cliff Curtis, and newcomers like Kaina Makua.
Continue reading “Siua Ikale’o on Bringing Life to His Breakout Role in ‘Chief of War’”
Chief of War is a historical drama series co-created by Thomas Pa’a Sibbett and Jason Momoa. Set at the turn of the 19th century, it tells the story of how the warring Hawaiian Islands were unified, in the midst of the threat of colonization.
Continue reading “Temuera Morrison on Portraying Ruthless Chief Kahekili in ‘Chief of War’”
There are very few staples in the world of pop sci-fi that have had the lasting impact of the Predator franchise. While the series has seen its shares of ups and downs since 1987, in recent years, it’s seen a considerable upswing thanks to the terrific efforts of filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg. Starting with Prey, continuing with Predator: Killer of Killers, and now coming up on Predator: Badlands.
Continue reading “SDCC 2025: The ‘Predator’ Blasts Hall H into the ‘Badlands’”
Holy crap! I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited to see the future of the Predator franchise play out. After an incredible revival with Prey, director Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator universe keeps getting more and more exciting, as evidenced with his latest creation: Predator: Killer of Killers!
Continue reading “NOC Review: ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Destroys All Expectations”
Hear that faint clicking sound? It means the Predator is on the move! Ever since Prey, Predator fans everywhere have been clamoring to see more from director Dan Trachtenberg for this franchise. And Trachtenberg, per the usual, did not disappoint one bit, as Predator: Killer of Killers has absolutely proven.
Continue reading “Hunting the ‘Killer of Killers’ with ‘Predator’ Directors Dan Trachtenberg and Josh Wassung”
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch didn’t have the best track record when the animation first premiered in 2002. White actress Daveigh Chase portrayed the titular Native Hawaiian character, Lilo. With the announcement of the live-action version, many fans were excited for Disney to rectify that mistake by casting Pacific Islander actors for the lead roles.
Continue reading “‘Lilo & Stitch’ Director and Producer on Authenticity and the Colorism Debate”
It has been 23 years since Disney’s animated film Lilo & Stitch premiered. And though what was considered cultural appropriation was different back then, the film was a bit ahead of its time by casting a few Asian or Pacific Islander voices for the main humans (except for Daveigh Chase as Lilo).
Continue reading “‘Lilo & Stitch’ Captures the Heart of Animated Original While Adding More Layers”
Having its world premiere at the South Coast Repertory, Noa Gardner‘s The Staircase is a deeply personal play that brings Hawaiian identity and folklore to the spotlight. Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, the music, folklore storytelling, and its message are wonderfully integrated with the efforts for authentic Hawaiian representation realized to full effect.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘The Staircase’”
Since Prey, the Predator franchise has returned to true glory. Following the negative reception of Shane Black’s The Predator, director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) was brought in to resurrect everything with Prey, which was universally beloved both as a terrific installment in the franchise and as a fantastic example of Indigenous representation done right! Now, in a terrific decision, 20th Century Studios is officially bringing Trachtenberg back for a brand new adventure in the Predator universe: Predator: Badlands!
Continue reading “Prepare for the ‘Badlands’ with the First-Look at ‘Predator: Badlands’”
Actor Gerald Ramsey has had quite a year of milestones. After nearly a decade of playing Mufasa in the North American touring production of The Lion King, he bowed out of the Pride Lands back in September. In November, he made his voice acting debut in Moana 2 as Tautai Vasa; the ancestor of Moana who summons her on her new mission to reunite the people of other islands.
Continue reading “Gerald Faitala Ramsey on Voyaging from ‘The Lion King’ to ‘Moana 2’ and Beyond”
The first Moana was a journey of self-discovery for the title character (Auliʻi Cravalho) who teamed up with the awesome fishhook-wielding and shapeshifting and sometimes self-centered demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore the heart of Tefiti. Eight years later, audiences are reunited with the characters they love in Moana 2, a sequel that’s worthy of your time.
Continue reading “‘Moana 2’ is a Beautiful Sonic and Visual Feast”
A little over a month remains until Moana 2 hits theaters, and for folks in New Zealand, they’ll have more than one way of experiencing it.
Continue reading “Reo Māori Dub of ‘Moana 2’ Arrives the Same Day as English-Language Counterpart”
Last year, Disney made a surprising announcement that their oceanic animated musical Moana would be developed into a live-action film. It would celebrate the islands, communities, and traditions of Pacific Islanders as seen through the eyes of a young woman eager to chart her own path by sailing the ocean.
Continue reading “Disney’s Finds its Live-Action ‘Moana’ in Catherine Laga‘aia”
We’ve come a long way since I first wrote a New York Times editorial about the lack of opportunity for AAPIs in Hollywood. In the ensuing eight years since that was published, AAPI-led films and shows have swept the Oscars and the Emmys, anchored both the DC and Marvel Cinematic Universes, and broken box office records.
Continue reading “Gold House Teams with McKinsey & Company to Research AAPI Media Representation”
Stan Walker is a singer from New Zealand. Rising to prominence through Australian Idol, he has since gone on to release seven albums; the most recent one in 2022, All In. In 2023, he was summoned by director Ava DuVernay, who, after being shown a video of him doing a cover of Kanye West’s “Ultralight Beam” by her producing partner, asked Walker to do the song for her latest film, Origin; which tells the story of how journalist Isabel Wilkerson researched the caste systems in the histories of the United States, Germany, and India, for her 2020 book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.
Continue reading “Stan Walker on Creating the Song “I Am” for Ava DuVernay’s ‘Origin’”
When Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana first hit the shores in 2016, it was critical and commercial smash that brought Polynesian culture and a contemporary sound from singer and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda onto the big screen in a way that could only be described as magical. Now, the studio hopes to replicate that once more with Moana 2, a newly announced sequel that is set to arrive in theaters November 2024.
Continue reading “Walt Disney Animation Studios Announces ‘Moana 2’ for a November 2024 Release”
Gold House and CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) have revealed their fourth annual Gold List which highlights outstanding work in film by Asian Pacific creatives in the past year.
Continue reading “Gold House & CAPE Launch 2024 Gold List to Celebrate Top Asian Pacific Film Achievements”
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month everyone! Last year, to acknowledge both this annual commemoration of contributions from the AAPI community and the ever-present following of the ’90s Disney Channel original series, So Weird, I compiled together a list of supernatural recommendations, created by and about people of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Continue reading “More AAPI Supernatural Recommendations for Fans of Disney’s ‘So Weird’”