Disney Doubles Down: After $1B Lilo and Stitch, Live-Action Moana Mirrors the Animated Original
Set sail—Moana returns to the big screen in 2026 with a fresh wave of high-seas adventure.
The first trailer for Disney's live-action Moana just dropped, and it leans hard into the sun-soaked, wave-splashed vibe that made the animated movie a smash. It’s a quick teaser, but there’s plenty to chew on.
What’s in the trailer
Newcomer Catherine Laga'aia is front and center, singing "I am Moana (Song of the Ancestors)" over a collage of big ocean energy: dancing, action beats, and sweeping island vistas. Yes, Hei Hei the rooster survives the transition to live action and gets a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. And if you’re scanning for Maui and not seeing him, hang on till the final sting — Dwayne Johnson pops in at the end, magical fish hook and all.
Quick refresher on the story
The original film followed 14-year-old Moana, chosen by the ocean to return a mystical relic to the goddess Te Fiti. She teams up with exiled demigod Maui to master wayfinding and set things right. The 2016 animated release pulled in $687.2 million worldwide and landed two Oscar nominations. Fast-forward to 2024, and Moana 2 sailed past the billion-dollar mark globally — so, no pressure, live-action team.
Who’s making it and who’s in it
- Director: Thomas Kail, best known for directing Broadway’s Hamilton
- Screenplay: Jared Bush (Zootopia) and Dana Ledoux Miller (Moana 2)
- Moana: Catherine Laga'aia (heard singing in the trailer)
- Maui: Dwayne Johnson (appears at the trailer’s end with his fish hook)
- Chief Tui: John Tui
- Sina: Frankie Adams
- Gramma Tala: Rena Owen
- Original Moana voice: Auli'i Cravalho (from the 2016 animated film)
Release date
Moana hits theaters on July 10, 2026. Plenty of time for the ocean to call you — again.