Moana 2 is set for a full release soon, starring Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. After a long wait, fans are eager to see the sequel to Disney’s beloved animated film.

At the U.K. premiere for this long-awaited follow-up, Cravalho, who voices Moana, shared her pride for the film. “If our last film was about connecting with the past, this film is about connecting with the future,” she said.

Cravalho was just 14 years old when she was first cast in Moana. Now, at 24, she is proud to tell a story that speaks to her heritage. She elaborated:

“Where do I begin? I love that Moana has such an impact, not only for my community of Pacific Islanders, but even beyond. To see a young Wayfinder on screen using traditional techniques, that’s a source of Polynesian pride, that’s a piece of indigenous knowledge that comes straight from us…. To see even folklore and myths of how Maui pulled islands out of the sea — that’s myths and mythology that I grew up with.”

Cravalho also expressed her excitement about Moana 2 being a musical, saying it speaks to her “inner theater kid.” The film, directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, focuses on Moana’s future and the future of her community while reuniting the people of the ocean. Audiences are in for an exciting journey as they explore this sequel to Moana.