As a child, Dana Ledoux Miller's mother used to bring her and her sibling to afternoon showings of movies such as "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," and "Beauty and the Beast." Following these screenings, she would play their soundtrack tapes repeatedly until they wore out from use, singing along and pretending she was characters like Belle, Jasmine, Ariel, or other iconic Disney heroines.
"I felt inspired to share tales," Miller states.
However, she never imagined she would have the opportunity to take center stage in shaping the destiny of one of those iconic Disney princesses. As the co-screenwriter and co-director of “Moana 2,” which became one of the year’s greatest successes in 2024, her dream came true. This follow-up movie, jointly directed by Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr., will be released on Disney+ shortly following its impressive worldwide earnings surpassing $1 billion at the box office. Initially, Miller had not planned to embark on such a venture, particularly without theatrical releases taking precedence. At first, she was brought aboard merely as a script consultant when “Moana 2” was envisioned as multiple episodes intended for streaming rather than a full-length 100-minute motion picture. After discovering how well-received the original Moana film was amongst their subscriber base, Disney decided to revamp their strategy for the franchise, leading to frantic efforts to transform the narrative format just before production concluded.
Significant simplification was necessary," Miller states. "The narrative required adjustment to fit appropriately. Throughout the series, considerable focus was placed on the crew aboard her vessel. However, since Moana’s name is part of the title, the movie had to emphasize this aspect. Therefore, we ensured that the crew characters were utilized to demonstrate her growth as an effective leader.
Miller, who identifies as Samoan, experienced a deep bond with Moana, the determined daughter of a Polynesian chieftain, upon watching the 2016 animated movie.
“She recalls, 'Tears welled up in my eyes. I had never entered a Regal Cinema and listened to the stories of my community before. To hear one of those tales come from a Disney princess completely transforms the experience. It conveys, “It’s alright to embrace your Polynesian heritage while being resilient, daring, and humorous.” Seeing oneself portrayed on-screen holds immense power.'"
Miller spent her childhood in Long Beach, California, yet Hollywood seemed distant and out of reach for her. Despite applying to several film schools, she did not secure admission to any prestigious programs. Consequently, she enrolled at the University of Hawaii, which led to an unforeseen opportunity within the entertainment sector finding her. There, she managed to obtain an internship on the production set of "Lost," the gripping ABC mystery series being filmed in the region.
She recalls, 'There were many other Pacific Islanders working alongside me.' This experience allowed her to appreciate the various skills required to narrate a story and the efforts of the entire team involved. Working in such an environment proved to be an amazing learning opportunity.'
Before receiving a call from Disney to delve into the world of Motunui, she had worked on Netflix series such as "Narcos" and "Thai Cave Rescue." Having achieved success in the entertainment industry, Miller now aims to construct opportunities for other underrepresented talents. To this end, she has cofounded an organization named Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK). This group provides networking and professional growth support to individuals within the community.
Unless we get to tell these stories, we won’t see ourselves reflected on the screens," Miller states. "Storytelling is crucial within our community, thus I am committed to safeguarding this tradition and delving deeper into what it signifies to be a Pacific Islander.
She hasn’t finished mapping out the journey for the spirited protagonist of the "Moana" series. Director Ron Clements Miller is collaborating with writer Jared Bush to pen the script for the live-action adaptation of "Moana." Renowned theater director Thomas Kail, known for his work on "Hamilton," takes charge as the helmsman, alongside Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui from the animated movies. In this new venture, newcomer Catherine Laga'aaia steps into the shoes of Moana. “She’s amazing,” praises Miller. “Catherine didn’t hesitate to go toe-to-toe with Dwayne; she was completely unfazed.”
Miller states that the live-action film will uphold the tradition of the animated classic, yet she believes that witnessing performers tackle challenging conditions will add greater intensity to the remake.
A 16-year-old girl sets out on a perilous voyage across open waters," explains Miller. "This raw reality truly shines through in live-action scenes, imbuing the film with genuine human fragility that makes it feel distinct and new.
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