Turns out “Moana” has a different name in one country and it might be for a very NSFW reason

The countdown until the newest Disney movie Moana hits theaters is on (only four days!). But while we Americans have been eagerly awaiting the flick—with its killer soundtrack and oodles of girl power to boot—there’s been an interesting debacle surrounding the film’s name in Italy. As a result, the movie will be released with the title Oceania in the boot-shaped country.

But why…?

Turns out, our Pacific Islander heroine shares her first name with a very famous Italian porn star, the late Moana Pozzi. While a spokesperson for Disney has only told  The Hollywood Reporter that “the studio frequently changes titles in foreign territories for a wide variety of reasons,” pretty much everyone has guessed that the adult film star is the reason why.

Oh.

The choice does make sense for Disney, who releases the film in Italy on December 22. The grade-school children + search engines + pornography equation is certain to introduce “the birds and the bees” to a lot of kids wayyyyy too soon. So we get it.

Actually, this isn’t the only country in which Moana won’t be called by that title.

In other parts of Europe, the film will be called Vaiana, which means “water cave.” Moana is already a registered brand in Spain and other countries, so even the character will be named “Vaiana” instead of “Moana.” If you’re wondering why Disney Italy didn’t just go with THAT option, it appears that the different Italian name has been in the works for a long time.

So, who is this other Moana?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Moana Pozzi starred in her first pornographic film while also working on a children’s show, which resulted in her being banned from television. As a result, her fame skyrocketed, and she went on to become an A-list porn star. She was also an outspoken supporter of gay and sexual rights. Moana even dabbled in politics, her platform including legalizing brothels and increasing sex education. But sadly, her career was cut short by her untimely death at age 33.

While it sounds like she lived a fascinating story, it’s certainly quite different than the story that will be told in Disney’s Moana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAmI1ExVqt4?feature=oembed

So, if your friends studying abroad tell you they’re going to see Oceania, you’ll have an interesting backstory to fill them in on.