Disney is preparing to send audiences back beyond the reef, with the live-action Moana now set as one of the studio’s biggest family releases of summer 2026. The new trailer has sharpened attention on the return of Maui, the ocean’s call, and a fresh lead performance from Catherine Lagaʻaia as the young wayfinder at the heart of the story.
The film is scheduled to open in theaters on July 10, 2026, bringing the Oscar-nominated animated adventure into live action nearly a decade after the original Moana became one of Disney’s most beloved modern titles. Dwayne Johnson, who voiced Maui in the 2016 animated film, returns to play the demigod on screen, giving the remake a direct link to the original while introducing a new Moana for a new theatrical run.
The latest trailer leans heavily on the scale of the ocean journey. It shows the story’s central pull clearly: Moana is chosen by the ocean and must leave Motunui to help restore prosperity to her people. The footage places the adventure in a bigger, more physical world, with stormy seas, island landscapes and Maui’s larger-than-life presence shaping the tone of the remake.
Moana live-action release date and trailer details
Moana will release in U.S. theaters on July 10, 2026. Disney is positioning the movie as a theatrical-only release at launch, with the trailer and ticket messaging focused on the big-screen experience. The official movie page describes the film as a live-action reimagining of the animated adventure, following Moana as she voyages beyond the reef for the first time with Maui on an unforgettable mission to restore balance to her people.
The trailer’s biggest selling point is the familiar emotional core of the story. Moana is still a teenager drawn to the ocean and to a destiny larger than the island life expected of her. Maui remains the charismatic demigod whose power, humor and complicated pride shape the journey. For viewers who grew up with the animated film, the remake appears designed to feel both recognizable and more grounded, with real locations, physical performances and a stronger sense of danger from the sea itself.
Disney has also highlighted the movie’s music and cinematic scale, with the official listing noting that audiences can experience the sights, sounds and songs of Disney’s live-action Moana in theaters. That matters because the original film’s songs, ocean imagery and Pacific Islander cultural setting were central to its global appeal, and the remake is likely to be judged on how carefully it carries those elements into live action.
Moana star cast and creative team
The live-action Moana cast is led by Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana. The casting gives the remake a new central face, with Lagaʻaia taking on the role of the determined wayfinder who leaves Motunui to save her people. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, the trickster demigod whose magical fish hook, confidence and emotional backstory remain central to the adventure.
The supporting cast includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Moana’s father and the leader of Motunui; Frankie Adams as Sina, Moana’s mother; and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, the revered elder whose guidance helps shape Moana’s understanding of the ocean and her own identity.
The film is directed by Thomas Kail, best known for his work on Hamilton. Disney lists the producers as Dwayne Johnson, Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films, is among the executive producers, adding another connection between the original version and the remake.
The timing gives Disney a major summer release built around a story that already has strong audience recognition. The 2016 animated film became a family favorite through its combination of music, mythology, ocean adventure and a heroine whose journey was not built around a traditional princess storyline. The live-action version now has to balance nostalgia with a reason to exist on its own, especially after Moana 2 recently brought the franchise back into the spotlight.
For now, the trailer makes Disney’s approach clear: the remake is selling scale, emotion and the return of Maui, while placing Catherine Lagaʻaia’s Moana at the center of the voyage. With a confirmed July 2026 theatrical release, the film is set to become one of Disney’s most closely watched live-action adaptations of the year.
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