Key Takeaways
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- Catherine Lagaaia stars as Moana in Disneys live-action remake of Moana, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui.
- The film is directed by Thomas Kail and produced by Dwayne Johnson, Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Lin-Manuel Miranda, among others.
- The trailer provides a sneak peek at the Cave of the Ancestors, Mauis initial meeting with Moana, the Realm of Monsters, and what seems to be the lava demon.
- The live-action Moana features songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina, with Aulii Cravalho serving as an executive producer and the film premiering in theaters on July 10, 2026.
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Following a teaser released in November 2025, Disney has unveiled the first full trailer for the live-action remake of Moana. Catherine Lagaaia stars as Moana, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. The film retells the story of the beloved animated movie, following Moana and Maui as they journey across the ocean to restore prosperity to Moana’s people on the island of Motunui. Directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton), Dwayne Johnson, Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are among the film’s producers. The cast features John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. The trailer offers a glimpse of the Cave of the Ancestors and Maui’s initial meeting with Moana, echoing the famous scene from the animated version, including his signature “cheehoo!” Viewers also get a peek at the live-action version of the Realm of Monsters and a look at what appears to be the lava demon. Maui transforms into a whale in one scene. The trailer concludes with Moana declaring that she is not a princess but the chief’s daughter and the leader of her people.
Live-Action Moana Premieres July 2026 with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Songs, Auli’i Cravalho as EP
The film will feature songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina, as in the original. Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller wrote the script. Tiana Nonosina Liufau worked on the choreography, and Liz McGregor served as the costume designer. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original animated film and sequel, is an executive producer on the live-action movie. Moana will premiere in theaters on July 10, 2026.
In Case You Missed It
In other exciting news from the House of Mouse, Sophie Laurent recently dropped a fascinating article on our sister site Disney Confirms Live-Action Remake of One of Its Best Animated Films revealing that Disney is set to breathe new life into the enchanting tale of Rapunzel with a live-action Tangled remake. With Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel and Teagan Croft & Milo Manheim stepping into iconic roles, this promises to be another captivating chapter in Disney’s ongoing reimagination of its animated classics, slated for sometime in 2027 or early 2028. Meanwhile, in celebrity fashion news, Carlos Mendoza explored Dakota Johnson’s latest gig as the face of Calvin Klein’s new ad campaign Dakota Johnson Stars in Calvin Klein Campaign last week, where you can find sultry, candid shots of the “Fifty Shades” star at her California home and learn more about the inspired-by-the-90s jeans collection she’s loving. Speaking of nostalgia, our previous post took a look at the evolution of Pixar’s beloved Toy Story franchise, leading us to Jonathan Dubinski’s latest piece First Trailer for Toy Story 5 where he dives into the newly released trailer for Toy Story 5, showcasing Woody, Buzz, and friends facing off against Lilypad, an innovative tablet threatening Bonnie’s playtime. With a stellar cast including Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom, this installment promises to explore technology versus toys through Pixar’s signature storytelling.
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Moana |
| Brief Summary | Prompted by a summons from the ocean, Moana departs her home island of Motunui for the first time and travels past its barrier reef. Accompanied by the demigod Maui, she undertakes a voyage aimed at recovering the well-being of her community. |
| Released | July 8, 2026 |
| Genre | Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure |
| Production Companies | Walt Disney Pictures, Seven Bucks Productions, Flynn Picture Company |
| Countries of Origin | US |
| Actors | Catherine Laga‘aia, Dwayne Johnson, Rena Owen, John Tui, Frankie Adams |
| Director | Thomas Kail |
| Authors | Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller |
| Producers | Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda |
| Homepage | https://movies.disney.com/moana-2026 |
They also talk about it
Links to external sources for further reading
- Moana - Official TrailerMoana - Official Trailerign.com
- Catherine Laga'aia joins Dwayne Johnson as Moana in live-action film slated for July 2026Catherine Laga'aia joins Dwayne Johnson as Moana in live-action film slated for July 2026abcnews.com
- New 'Moana' trailer showcases live-action Maui, Tamatoa and the Cave of the AncestorsNew 'Moana' trailer showcases live-action Maui, Tamatoa and the Cave of the Ancestorsabc7.com
- More Stories by KatieMore Stories by Katiebillboard.com
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