Disney

Moana follows the adventures of a young Polynesian princess and navigator who is accompanied by the superhero-demigod Maui, but in the run-up to the film's premiere reaction has been divided between those who have praised its cultural inclusiveness and others who feared the potential for cultural appropriation.

RNZ reports Australian based band Te Vaka was approached by Disney to help write the soundtrack and its bandleader Opetaia Foa'i said despite the controversy, the filmmakers spent years researching to get the film right.

Te Vaka was founded by Samoan-born Opetaia Foa'i, who is Tokelauan-Tuvaluan and was raised in New Zealand.

NiuFM reports Julie Foa'i, band manager and Opetaia's wife, says the Moana soundtrack is loaded with Te Vaka.

"There's a lot of tracks written by Opetaia in there, and when you hear the movie you will hear a lot of his input into the soundtrack and into the songs. Put it this way - the movie opens with Te Vaka," says Foa'i. 

The information, posted anonymously on the websiteAngry Asian Man, revealed that the new Disney movie would not focus on Mulan's own journey to protect her family. Instead, the proposed remake of the studio's hit animation movie would feature a white male European sailor who saved the young heroine and conquered her heart.

The costume, a full-body suit with brown skin, traditional tattoos, grass skirt and bone necklace, represents the character Maui, considered a demi-god and ancestor by many Polynesians.

Activists said it was "brownface", or mocking of the culture by creating stereotypes.

Disney said it regretted any offence.

John C. Reilly will reclaim his role as the arcade villain who decides he doesn't want to be so bad anymore.

Disney announced the news via Facebook Live with the film's directors, Rich Moore and Phil Johnston. Reilly made a surprise cameo and popped up wearing Ralph's giant arms.

"I would like to say to the internet right now officially that Disney animation is making the sequel to 'Wreck-it Ralph,'" Reilly said. "And it comes out March 9, 2018, there ya go!"

As of Thursday (August 27), the Despicable Me spin-off hit the billion dollar mark worldwide, making it the third biggest animated movie of all time, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Minions easily won the US box office in its debut weekend with $115 million and has since gone on to make $321.9 million in the North American domestic box office and $682 million internationally.

The 43-year-old professional wrestler, who goes by his ring name The Rock, has joined Disney's live-action Jungle Cruise. Writers John Requa and Glenn Ficarra are also attached to the project, which is currently in development.

According to The Wrap, the film, which is based on the popular theme park ride, does not yet have a director. The site also reports that Johnson's film is expected to be a period piece.

Te Vaka is a group of musicians and dancers from various Pacific Island backgrounds based in New Zealand.

Their unique music - a blend of traditional Island and contemporary tunes - has taken them around the world and they have a huge following around the Pacific region.

Oil prices fell, dragging energy stocks lower.

KEEPING SCORE: The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up nine points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,102 as of 3 p.m. Eastern time. The Dow Jones industrial average edged up four points, less than 0.1 percent, to 17,555, while the Nasdaq rose 41 points, or 0.8 percent, to 5,147.