Casting will soon start for
The Lion King. Winstanley says they’ll be looking for reo of different dialects from across Aotearoa. In effect, each group of animals will be from a different region or iwi. She won’t say, however, which iwi is best suited to voice Scar.
Moana Reo Māori didn’t have a major cinematic release, but was made available to stream on Disney+ after some select screenings. It was made thanks to a few backers, including Māori media funding agency Te Māngai Paho, Disney, and even some support from Air NZ. Te Māngai Paho listed it as one of the biggest successes of 2017, after funding it for $160,000. The selected screenings for
Frozen and
The Lion King will be released in time for Matariki next year.
Photo: Supplied
Disney said the collaboration with local company Matewa Media followed the success of a reo Māori version of Moana last year. It was always our dream to dub more Disney films that our tāmariki love into te reo Māori, one of the producers, Chelsea Winstanley said.
The Lion King will be released in time for Matariki in June 2022, while Frozen will be released three months later, to coincide with Māori Language Week. In order for our language to thrive it must reach the hearts and homes of our people, another producer, Tweedie Waititi said.
Abigail Dougherty/Stuff
Oscar-winning filmmaker Chelsea Winstanley is working on productions for te reo versions of Frozen and The Lion King. Disney said it planned for
The Lion King Reo Māori to premiere in June 2022, to align with Matariki. The plan was for
Frozen Reo Māori to be released during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori in September next year. Production for Winstanley and Waititi, of the reo Māori-focused production group Matewa Media, led a national search for voice talent to record
Moana Reo Māori – hiring children, newsreaders and bringing Jemaine Clement back to finish the film.
Your weekend Olympic viewing
I’m out of here for the week so I thought I’d leave you with some Olympic picks from this weekend’s viewing schedule. (PS, our rowers have been in top form in this afternoon’s heats).
There are SO many New Zealanders competing this weekend – you can check out the full list here. Below, some highlights to choose from.
Friday, July 23 (tonight!)
Saturday, July 24:
1.10/1.30pm: More rowing! Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler in the women’s pair heats followed by Stephen Jones and Brook Robertson in the men’s pair heats.
2pm: Road cycling! Fun to watch? Maybe! George Bennett and Patrick Bevin – men’s race