NYC premiere of live-action 'Moana' held in Lin-Manuel Miranda's neighborhood of Washington Heights

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, New York -- The stars of Disney's live-action adaptation of "Moana" were in Washington Heights for the New York premiere on Thursday night.

The blue carpet was rolled out for people getting a chance to see the film.

This is a reimagining of the beloved Oscar-nominated animated adventure.

"Hamilton" director Thomas Kail is making his feature film directing debut.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is one of the producers and wrote the music.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson returns to the movie and talked to Joelle Garguilo at the premiere about his journey from spending time in Hawaii as a child.

"That kid who got evicted off the island of Hawaii and who couldn't pay the rent? I always say this because it's locked in my brain. 180 bucks a week was our rent and we couldn't pay it so we got evicted. So that kid who got evicted off the island to now here in NYC, Moana, this crazy blue carpet, it's amazing," Dwayne Johnson said.

"I want people to see it with their families in theatres. I think a lot of people discovered Moana at home, on streaming, and their kids sing the songs and they sing the songs but it's a whole other experience to see Tommy's incredible vision of this film on a big screen with the surround sound," Lin-Manuel Miranda said.

Watch the new live-action "Moana" film in theaters everywhere Friday, July 10.

Disney is the parent company of this station.

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