Who voices the new and returning characters

Moana provided a radical shake-up to Disney’s catalog when it was released in November 2016. The film’s immersion in its Polynesian culture and its representation of ancient spiritual mythology and traditions was unprecedented from a major Hollywood studio. The film was a high water mark for cultural representation in cinema, but it also happened to be a rollicking piece of entertainment. Much of the film’s success can be attributed to its stellar voice cast, an ensemble of some of the world’s most famous stars (Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Scherzinger) as well as lesser-known talents that are part of the culture at the heart of Moana.

With Moana 2′s release on November 27th, audiences can expect to be reunited with their favorite characters from the original in addition to a few new additions to the cast. While much of the film’s plot remains under wraps, the fresh faces populating Moana’s island promise to expand on the cultural mythology established in the first image.

in front Moana 2 coming to the cinema Weekly entertainment explores the voice cast behind the film, including returning favorites and new friends.

Auli’i Cravalho as Moana

Auliʻi Cravalho was born on November 22, 2000 in Kohala, Hawaii. She made her acting debut in Moanawho plays the same role as the chief’s daughter, tasked with finding the heart of Te Fiti, the goddess of nature, and therefore preserving the sanctity of her homeland, Motunui Island.

After MoanaCravalho took on live-action roles in NBC’s short-lived series Get up (2018) and Hulu Original Movies Darby of the Dead (2022). In addition to reprising the role of Moana in Ralph breaks the internet (2018), she starred as Janis ‘Imi’ike (formerly Janis Ian) in the musical remake of Wild girls (2024).

Dwayne Johnson as Maui

Dwayne Johnson stars alongside Cravalho as demigod and expert wayfinder Maui, who stole Te Fiti’s heart in an attempt to gift humanity with the power of creation. Maui was considered a hero until he stole (and subsequently lost) Te Fiti’s heart and cursed humanity. Years later, he gets a chance to redeem himself when Moana tracks him down and persuades him to join her in finding the heart.

Johnson got his start in WWE before graduating to a successful acting and producing career. He is best known for playing the tough cop Luke Hobbs in Fast and furious franchise and for roles in San Andreas (2015), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), and Jungle cruise (2021). Johnson is pulling double duty at theaters this holiday season, starring The red one as a mercenary tasked with rescuing a kidnapped Santa Claus.

Temuera Morrison as Tui

New Zealand native Temuera Morrison plays Moana’s ever-present helicopter father, who is also the respected chief of Motunui Island. Morrison has had a long career with Disney, starting back in 2002 when he played Jango in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. He voiced Boba Fett in several Star Wars video game and also renamed the character for the 2004 re-release of the The Empire strikes back (1980). Morrison also played Tom Curry in Aquaman (2018) and its sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).

Nicole Scherzinger as Sina

Former Pussycat doll Nicole Scherzinger voices Sina, Moana’s open-hearted mother, who works with her husband as Motunui’s chiefs. Hawaii-born Scherzinger is a singer, songwriter and actress who was part of the Pussycat Dolls from 2003 to 2010 in addition to serving as a judge on talent shows such as The X Factor and The Masked Singer. In 2010, she won the 10th season of Dancing with the stars. She appeared in Rent (2010) at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles; and in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats (2014). She currently stars as Norma Desmond in Webber’s Sunset Blvd musical.

Rachel House as Tala

Rachel House plays Moana’s grandmother Tala, a kindred spirit to the young woman who shares Moana’s deep love of nature and connection to the sea. Tala falls ill and dies at the end of Moanabut she is set to return in the sequel in the form of a manta ray spirit.

Like Morrison, House is a New Zealand native who made his theatrical debut in 2003 Whale rider. She voiced Terry in Pixar’s Soul (2020) and Mamá Coco in Māori dub by Coco (2017). House is well known for his work with director Taika Waititi, having appeared in six of the director’s features, including Go hunting for the Wilderpeople (2016); Thor: Ragnarok (2017); Yoyo Rabbit (2019); and Next goal wins (2023).

Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea

Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda joins the cast as Simea, Moana’s 3 1/2 year old sister. Moana 2 is the first role for Lambert-Tsuda, who was born in Japan. Simea “thinks of Moana’s world and misses her terribly when she’s gone on her wayfinding journeys,” according to a character description provided by Disney.

“Simea is Moana’s mini,” Lambert-Tsuda told EW of her character. “She’s cute and energetic, so I wanted to be cute and energetic when I said my lines,” she reflected. “I don’t have a sibling in real life, so it was cool to pretend I have one. And it’s Moana, the coolest big sister ever! I wish I could meet her in real life!”

Kevin Webb, one of the film’s lead animators, told EW that with Simea, they wanted to create a character that could match Moana’s formidableness. “When we were developing Simea’s personality, a lot of it came from, ‘What would it be like to grow up with an older sister who’s as cool and badass as Moana?'” he said.

He continued: “Simea will be as scrappy and fiery as Moana was when she was little. So we tried to find a strong enough personality for her that we could match Moana’s energy on screen, which is really fun. alchemy to play with, when you have this 3-and-a-half-year-old version of a character that’s very unique in their own way, but still connected to Moana.”

Rose Matafeo as Loto

Moana 2 discovers Maui introducing the titular heroine to a trio of his fellow Pathfinders who join to aid their cause. Wayfinding is an ancient Polynesian art that involved navigating the open sea using only the stars in the sky and the natural swells of the water. It was one of many traditional Polynesian rituals that were brought into focus in the original Moana.

Rose Matafeo plays Loto, a wayfinder described by Disney as “a brilliant but quirky engineer” (aren’t they all?) whose job it is to keep the gang’s canoe in order. This sometimes involves “implementing the changes in real time, whether the rest of the crew is ready or not.” Matafeo was previously seen in the series Shrews (2018-2019), as Talia; and Starstruck (2021-2023) who plays Jessie.

David Fane as Kele

David Fane plays a crop farmer who joins the mission to grow food for the hungry journeymen. As one of the elders on Motunui, Kele has seen a lot in his time and doesn’t find the mission all that daring or breathtaking. However, he is a devoted foodie and, despite his grumpy demeanor, takes pride in cooking as well as he can for the clan.

Another New Zealander, Fane is best recognized for his work with Taika Waititi. He played Kevin/Fang Our flag means death (2022–) and appeared alongside House in Waititi’s Next goal wins (2023).

Hualālai Chung as Moni

Hualālai Chung’s Moni is literally “a (physical) giant fanboy” of Maui. A longtime resident of the island who possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of its folklore, Maui represents everything Moni could ever hope to be. “Moni’s size and stature make him a powerful asset to Moana’s crew,” Disney teases enigmatically.

Chung is a Hawaiian native who has had small roles in regional projects such as Rescue: HI-Surf, NCIS: Hawaii (both 2024) and the upcoming live-action Lilo and Stitch remake (2025) where he plays Animal Control Worker #1. Chung also appeared in an uncredited role in an episode of Mad Men as “fire knife dancer”.

Awhimai Fraser as Matangi

Matangi is described as “a mysterious figure who challenges everything Moana thinks she knows about herself.” Rumors abound that Matangi stays Moana 2′is very bad. In the trailer, Matangi can be heard saying ominously, “You will be destroyed and so will your Wayfinder.”

Awhimai Fraser, another New Zealand native i Moana 2‘s ensemble, is seeing her most prominent Hollywood exposure to date with Pixar’s sequel, though she’s hardly a newcomer to the industry. Fraser starred as Becky Reid in 74 episodes of the long-running Auckland-based medical drama Shortland Street (1992-). She also starred as Chantelle in 95 episodes of the sardonic crime comedy Ahikaroa (2018-2021).

Moana can be streamed on Disney+. Moana 2 hits theaters November 27.