Auli’i Cravalho Returning to Lead Voice Cast of Disney’s “Moana 2”

Auli’i Cravalho has more to go

The 23-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer will reprise the voice of Moana in Disney’s Moana 2.

Auliʻi Cravalho

It has been previously reported that Cravalho as in talks to reteam with Dwayne Johnson, who is returning as demigod Maui.

In a CNBC interview ahead of Disney‘s last earnings call, CEO Bob Iger sprung the news that Moana 2 was opening of November 27, during the Thanksgiving holiday season. Disney essentially was over the moon with Moana Disney+ series that it turned into a big-screen movie.

The sequel is directed by Dave Derrick Jr., with music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily BearGrammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.

Cravalho told fans last May on social media that she wasn’t planning to reprise the role of Moana in the live-action version of the movie.

“When I was cast as Moana at 14, it wonderfully changed my life and started my career,” she said in a video posted on Instagram back then. “In this live-action retelling, I will not be reprising the role. I believe it is absolutely vital the casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell.”

Cravalho, a native of Kohala, Hawaii, continued at the time: “So, as an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength. I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next young woman of Pacific Island descent, to honor our incredible Pacific peoples cultures and communities that help inspire her story. And I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representations to come. Mahalo.”

Released in 2016, Moana grossed more than $687M at the global box office and earned Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and the original song “How Far I’ll Go” by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Cravalho recently starred in Paramount’s winter hit Mean Girls and also starred on the TV series Rise, The Power and the animated series, Hailey’s on It!

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera to Run Against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera is making a run for the U.S. House of Representatives… and she’s taking on a popular freshman Congresswoman.

The 53-year-old half-Cuban American journalist, business news reporter and CNBCcontributor has launched a campaign for the New York City Congressional seat currently held by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Caruso-Cabrera, an outspoken critic of government excess, will be running as a Democrat in the district, which stretches across the Bronx and Queens, though her political views position her significantly to the right of Ocasio-Cortez. 

CNBC says she will go on leave from the network, where she has been a reporter and anchor for 20 years.

“I am the daughter and granddaughter of working-class Italian and Cuban immigrants,” Caruso-Cabrera said in a statement. “I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful career and I want everybody to have the opportunity that I’ve had. That’s why I’m running.”

Known by her initials, AOC, the 30-year-old political newcomer’s victory in 2018 was one of the high-profile wins as Democrats took control of the House of RepresentativesNetflix captured the win in the documentary Bringing Down the House. Ocasio-Cortez has since racked up more than 6 million Twitter followers. Along with other progressives new to the U.S.Congress, she has become a frequent target of conservatives’ attacks on Democratic leadership.

In her 2010 book, You Know I’m Right: More Prosperity, Less Government, Caruso-Cabrera emphasizes themes like personal responsibility, fiscal conservatism and limited government.

Prior to joining CNBC, Caruso-Cabrera worked at Univision. She has appeared multiple times as a guest on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. In a 2011 episode’s “Overtime” segment onYouTube, she promoted her book and defended CNBC against charges that it took a political stance similar to that of Fox News’ opinion hosts. She also described President Barack Obama as “extremely liberal” and misguided because he “believes that government can solve so many problems that it can’t,” such as health care.

Rodriguez to Host CNBC Reality TV Show About Financially Troubled Retired Athletes

Things are about to get real for Alex Rodriguez

The 41-year-old former Dominican American professional baseball star, nicknamed “A-Rod,” will host a CNBC reality television show featuring retired athletes who face financial troubles.

Alex Rodriguez

CNBC announced Tuesday that the show’s working title is “Back in the Game.” It will be co-produced by another former New York sports star, Michael Strahan.

Rodriguez played his final game with the New York Yankees last August, ending a 12-year run with New York. The Yankees will owe him $20 million in 2017, the final season of his 10-year, $275 million contract.

The Yankees announced that Rodriguez will remain with the organization as a team adviser in 2017, but the three-time American League MVP technically is a free agent and can sign with any club.

According to a CNBC release, the pilot episode of “Back in the Game” will pair former athletes “in serious financial distress with money-savvy mentors who can help them get back on their feet.”

Strahan, the Hall of Fame New York Giants defensive end, is listed as one of three executive producers for the show.

Quintanilla Joins HBO’s Emmy-Winning “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel”

It’s about to get real for Carl Quintanilla

The Latino award-winning broadcast journalist and CNBC anchor has joined HBO’s Emmy-winning Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

Carl Quintanilla

HBO and Gumbel made the announcement on Monday.

“Carl’s experience and on-air skills figure to boost our lineup tremendously,” said Gumbel in a statement. “Since the focus at Real Sports is primarily on financial and social issues in the world of sports, Carl’s background makes him a great fit for what we like to do.”

Quintanilla’s responsibilities at CNBC will remain the same; he’ll still anchor weekday programs Squawk on the Street and Squawk Alley.

“The quality of [Real Sports‘] reporting is as good as there has ever been on television, led by correspondents I’ve admired my entire career. I couldn’t ask for a better team on which to play a part,” added Quintanilla.

Real Sports has a long history of bringing on correspondents who work with other networks.

Veteran TV sports reporter Andrea Kremer is the chief correspondent of the NFL Network‘s recently formed health and player safety unit. Soledad O’Brien, who joined the show last year, also reports for Al Jazeera America. And Mary Carillo has several other jobs including a significant presence on NBC Sports during coverage of the Olympics.

Aguilera to Perform on NBC’s Hurricane Sandy Benefit Telethon

Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast, Christina Aguilera is stepping up to help.

The 31-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer and The Voice coach, who was born in Staten Island, will perform at Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together, a one-hour live benefit telethon organized by the networks of NBCUniversal — including NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!, G4, MSNBC, Style, Syfy and USA.

Christina Aguilera

Hosted by Today anchor Matt Lauer, the telethon will be broadcast from NBC’s the New York studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. It’ll air live across the East Coast and tape-delayed on the West. Additional networks could join the broadcast of the telethon prior to airtime.

Along with Aguilera, the list of performers includes: Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Sting. Additionally, the telethon will feature appearances by Jimmy Fallon and NBC NewsBrian Williams.

Money collected will be donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together will be broadcast live on Friday, November 2 at 8:00 pm ET.

To donate, people can visit http://www.redcross.org/, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.