Catherine Laga‘aia has been cast as the leading lady in Disney’s live-action Moana film, alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who will reprise his role as Maui. The movie is set to begin production this summer with a release date of July 10, 2026. Laga‘aia expressed her excitement at being able to represent Pacific Island peoples and celebrate her Samoan heritage through her role as Moana. The cast also includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. Thomas Nail will direct the film with a script from Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller.
The producers of the live-action Moana film include Lin-Manuel Miranda and Dwayne Johnson, with Auli‘i Cravalho serving as an executive producer and mentor to Laga‘aia. Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original 2016 film, expressed her enthusiasm for the expansion of the Moana universe and the positive impact the character has had on audiences. Johnson announced the live-action version of Moana in April 2023, and shared his deep connection to the story and his Polynesian roots. He voiced Maui in the 2016 film and will reprise the role in Moana 2, which is scheduled for release on November 27 and will be directed by Dave Derrick Jr.
Moana 2 will see the return of Auli‘i Cravalho as the voice of Moana, and will follow the characters on an expansive new voyage with a brand-new crew. The sequel is described as an adventure unlike anything Moana has faced before, as she journeys to dangerous, long-lost waters after receiving a call from her wayfinding ancestors. Originally planned as a TV show, Disney CEO Bob Iger made the decision to upgrade Moana 2 to a feature film after seeing early clips of the footage. Iger emphasized the popularity of the Moana franchise and expressed excitement for the release of Moana 2 in theaters in November.
The casting process for the live-action Moana film brought together a talented group of actors, including Catherine Laga‘aia, Rena Owen, Frankie Adams, and John Tui, who will all be on set together for the production. Director Kail expressed his excitement at the opportunity to work with the cast on bringing the beloved characters to life on screen. With Johnson and Miranda as producers, the film is set to continue the legacy of Moana as a strong and empowering character for audiences of all generations to relate to. The Moana universe is expanding with the release of Moana 2 and the upcoming live-action film, bringing new adventures and stories for fans to enjoy.
