Disney has revealed the first look at its latest film remade for live-action, Moana, starring Catherine Laga’aia (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) in the titular role, alongside the return of Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine, Red One, Moana 2) as the shapeshifting hero of myth, Maui.
It’s a fresh look for the island of Motonui, its seafaring people and the mystical beings that wait beyond the reef. The film will recreate the story of its original 2016 animated outing; Moana, the daughter of the chief of Motonui, must set out beyond the safety of her island’s waters to find a long-lost demigod and save her people from destruction.
Beyond the two stars, the cast includes Auckland, New Zealand, native John Tui (Plum, Battleship) as Moana’s father, Chief Tui; Samoan-New Zealander Frankie Adams (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Mortal Engines) as Moana’s mother, Sina; and Bay of Islands-born Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors, Siren) as Moana’s spiritual guide and grandmother, Gramma Tala. The film is directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton) and co-written by Dana Ledoux Miller and Jared Bush.
The original Moana film, released in 2016, starred Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho as Maui and Moana, and was met with critical and commercial success, grossing over $643 million USD at the global box office and receiving two Oscar nominations. Its soundtrack in particular, penned by Mark Mancina, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foaʻi, became one of the most popular of Disney’s modern productions.
The remake marks Disney’s tightest turnaround from animation to live action yet, having first been announced in 2023 before its sequel had even been released in theatres.
While other Disney live-action remakes, such as The Lion King, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, had decades as animated classics before being re-released, Moana was released nine years ago, and the animated sequel, Moana 2, was released in theatres just last year.
Moana is set to release worldwide on July 9, 2026. Watch the trailer below.
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