Nicole Scherzinger has joined the cast of Disney’s ‘Moana’.
The 38-year-old former Pussycat Doll will play the title character’s playful and strong-willed mother, Sina, and she is thrilled about it.
Nicole took to Twitter to express her excitement on Monday (25.07.16), and posted: "I’m so excited to announce that I will be playing Sina #Moana’s mother in @DisneyMoana. In theatres from Nov 23rd!"
The animated feature is directed by Ron Clements and John Musker (‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Aladdin’), and is about the life-changing journey of a tenacious Moana, played by newcomer Auli’i Cravalho, who teams up with the mighty demigod Maui, voiced by 44-year-old Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, to fulfill an ancient quest.
The film has not been without controversy even before its release, as the overweight appearance of the Polynesian character played by Johnson has sparked anger throughout the Pacific islands that Disney are reinforcing stereotypes.
One New Zealand MP went so far to say that the portrayal of the god Maui as obese was "not acceptable".
As for the remainder of the cast, meanwhile, Temuera Morrison voices Tui, who serves as the chief of Motunui Island. Moana’s grandmother, Gramma Tala, is voiced by Rachel House.
Jemaine Clement voices Tamatoa, and Alan Tudyk also voices a rooster named Heihei, who doesn’t actually have any intelligible lines.
Nicole Scherzinger set to star in Disney’s Moana
