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Acclaimed songwriter and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda returns as producer and songwriter for the live-action version of "Moana."

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Acclaimed songwriter and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda,

Yong Chavez

ABS-CBN News North America

Acclaimed songwriter and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who earned an Academy Award nomination for the song &quot;How Far I&#x27;ll Go,&quot; returns as producer and songwriter for the live-action version of &quot;Moana.&quot;Recalling how he wrote the Oscar-nominated song, Miranda said he returned to his parents&#x27; home and his childhood bedroom to reconnect with the feelings that shaped the song.&quot;I remember when I was writing these songs back 2015, I was having trouble with a &#x27;Moana&#x27; song. I actually went back to my parents&#x27; house to write. I went back to my old bedroom, and I just wanted to feel what it was like when I was 16, and I knew what I wanted to do, and it felt like it was a million, billion miles away. And that’s how I wrote the song, by going back home,&quot; Miranda told ABS-CBN News.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783663292652Screenshot 2026-07-10 at 1.59.38 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Lin-Manuel Miranda. Screengrab</div>Introduced as the new Moana in the live-action adaptation is Catherine Laga&#x27;aia, who admitted she learned great deal while portraying the brave title character. &quot;That moment where Moana has to kind of do it alone again, I feel like that was a moment where I really felt kind of with her. It was more than halfway through the process, I’ve shot over half the film, I could look back at the things I&#x27;d done, and then look forward to the things I had to do, and it was like: yeah, I think I can do that. That goal and that challenge finally looks achievable,&quot; she said.Just like in the animated film, Dwayne &quot;The Rock&quot; Johnson reprises his role as Maui.

Acclaimed songwriter and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who earned an Academy Award nomination for the song "How Far I'll Go," returns as producer and songwriter for the live-action version of "Moana."

Acclaimed songwriter and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who earned an Academy Award nomination for the song "How Far I'll Go," returns as producer and songwriter for the live-action version of "Moana."

How Lin-Manuel Miranda found inspiration for 'Moana' anthem 'How Far I'll Go'

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How Lin-Manuel Miranda found inspiration for 'Moana' anthem 'How Far I'll Go'

Yong Chavez,

ABS-CBN News North America

Published July 10, 2026 02:22 PM PHT

Read More:

Moana

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Catherine Laga'aia

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