Disney’s live-action Moana opens in US theaters on July 10, starring newcomer Catherine Laga’aia in the title role and Dwayne Johnson returning as the demigod Maui — the same character he voiced in the 2016 animated original and its 2024 sequel.
The film is directed by Thomas Kail, who won Emmy and Tony Awards for his work on Hamilton. Original voice actress Auli’i Cravalho, who played Moana in both animated films, serves as an executive producer. The film features the original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, with Laga’aia performing “How Far I’ll Go” in the full trailer.
Who Is Catherine Laga’aia
Catherine Laga’aia is a 17-year-old actress from New Zealand with Samoan and Tongan heritage. She is not a trained pop performer or a known commodity — she was cast in an open search for an actor who could credibly play Moana from a cultural and physical standpoint. The trailer suggests she has the presence to carry the film. Whether she can hold her own next to Dwayne Johnson in a live-action context is the core question until reviews arrive.
Aulii Cravalho’s decision to step away from the lead role and move into an executive producer credit is worth noting. She was 14 when the original Moana came out and the character is inseparable from her voice for the generation that grew up with it. Passing the role to Laga’aia required Cravalho’s buy-in, and having her attached as producer is Disney’s way of signaling continuity of care.
The Supporting Cast and Cultural Elements
John Tui plays Chief Tui, Moana’s father. Frankie Adams plays her mother Sina. Rena Owen plays Gramma Tala, whose role in the original was one of the most emotionally resonant parts of the animated film. The familiar characters from the animation — the rooster Heihei, the crab Tamatoa, the Kakamora — appear in the trailer in live-action versions.
Disney has leaned into cultural authenticity as a selling point. The casting is predominantly Pacific Islander, the music team includes Opetaia Foa’i, whose work on the original drew from Polynesian musical traditions, and the shooting locations included Samoa and Hawaii.
Context: Disney’s Live-Action Track Record and Toy Story 5
Disney is having a strong summer. Toy Story 5 crossed $300 million domestic in its second weekend. Moana opens two weeks after Supergirl, which had a disappointing debut, so there’s some room in the marketplace. Whether audiences who loved the animated Moana show up for the live-action version is the box office question — The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast cleared $1 billion each, while more recent live-action remakes have been more modest.
Moana opens July 10 — Disney’s next big summer bet, led by a teenager most audiences haven’t seen before, backed by Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs, and the enormous goodwill of the original film.
FYI (keeping you in the loop)
Who plays Moana in the 2026 live-action film?
Catherine Laga’aia, a 17-year-old actress from New Zealand with Samoan and Tongan heritage, plays Moana in the 2026 live-action film. Dwayne Johnson returns as the demigod Maui. The film is directed by Thomas Kail and opens in US theaters on July 10, 2026.
References
Hollywood Reporter. (2026). Moana Live-Action Trailer Stars Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga’aia. Published 2026.
Deadline. (2026). Moana Trailer: Live-Action Pic With Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia. Published March 2026.
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