Disney has dropped the first trailer for its live action remake of Moana, giving fans a proper look at Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson back as the larger than life demigod Maui. The film is set for U.S. theaters on July 10, 2026, marking the third entry in the growing Moana franchise after the original 2016 film and the 2024 animated sequel Moana 2.
The teaser hits a lot of familiar beats for fans of the animated movie. We see a live action Motunui with lush beaches and village life, glimpses of Maui showing off his shapeshifting powers, and the Kakamora, who are once again tiny, wild, and oddly cute. The big spotlight moment belongs to Lagaʻaia, who stands on the outrigger canoe and delivers the climactic line from the song “I Am Moana,” signaling that the film plans to lean into the music as much as the spectacle.
Casting is a mix of fresh faces and returning favorites. Newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia makes her feature debut as Moana, while Johnson reprises Maui after voicing him in both animated films. The rest of Moana’s family is also in place: John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. It is a distinctly Pacific cast, which lines up with how strongly the original emphasized Polynesian culture and representation.
Behind the camera, Disney has stacked the creative team with familiar names. The movie is directed by Thomas Kail, best known to most audiences from Hamilton. Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Beau Flynn, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are producing, while original Moana star Auliʻi Cravalho serves as an executive producer rather than returning in the title role. Composer Mark Mancina is back to score the film, and Miranda is once again involved with the music, which should keep the live action version closely tied to the sound of the original.
Storywise, Disney is keeping things close to the 2016 movie. The official synopsis describes Moana answering the call of the ocean and sailing beyond the reef with Maui to restore prosperity to her people, just as she did in the animated film. The trailer supports that, focusing on iconic moments rather than teasing big plot changes, which suggests this is meant to be a faithful retelling rather than a radical reimagining.
This trailer also lands in an interesting moment for the franchise. The original Moana has only been around for about a decade, but it has already spun off a theatrical sequel and now a live action remake, all while the animated films continue to live on Disney+. For fans, that means this movie has to justify itself visually and emotionally, not just exist as a shot for shot redo. The early footage looks lush, the cast feels thoughtfully chosen, and giving a young Pacific Islander actor the chance to carry such a huge film might be the most exciting part of this new chapter.
If the full film can balance the warmth, humor, and cultural weight that made Moana resonate so strongly the first time, this live action voyage back to Motunui could end up feeling more like a celebration than a retread.
gfpods.com 
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