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The original will be barely 10 years old when the remake arrives, making it the tightest turnaround between an animated Disney film and its live-action adaptation.
LOS ANGELES — Disney released a full trailer Monday for its live-action reimagining of “Moana,” offering audiences their clearest look yet at the upcoming movie and its main stars.
The trailer stars 19-year-old Catherine Laga’aia in the titular role alongside Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as the demigod Maui.
The trailer shows Moana’s Gramma Tala outlining what her granddaughter must do to save her island and people, and includes a preview of Laga’aia’s performance of the signature song “How Far I’ll Go” as well as the character’s “I am Moana!” battle cry.
The film is scheduled for release July 10, 2026, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the original animated film.
Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films, declined to reprise the role in the live-action version, stating she wanted to make way for another Pacific Islander to take on the part. Cravalho serves as an executive producer on the new film.
Disney also released an “Artistry of Moana” behind-the-scenes featurette Monday featuring commentary from Johnson, Laga’aia, director Thomas Kail, costume designer Liz McGregor and choreographer Tiana Nonosina Liufau.
In the clip, Laga’aia said the production was committed to authenticity: “On the live-action ‘Moana,’ everyone is making sure that every single aspect stays true to what Moana is really about.”
The cast also includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote songs for the original film but was not involved in “Moana 2,” returned as a songwriter and producer for the remake. Mark Mancina, who scored both animated films, also returned to compose the score.
WATCH: “Moana” live-action trailer
Online backlash
Audience reaction on social media was swift and drew immediate skepticism, with much attention given to the look of Johnson’s Maui wig.
One user said the trailer “looks like an SNL sketch,” while another called a still image from the trailer “a t-mobile commercial.”
Director Thomas Kail acknowledged in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the character’s hair presented significant technical challenges.
“We knew that it had to be something that could have real lift to it,” Kail said. “Because you’re doing this on the water, ‘what does it look like wet?’ is a real conversation when you’re making ‘Moana.’ That one weighs seven pounds more with all the water in it for all those hours a day.”
Many viewers noted that “Moana 2” was only just released in November 2024, and the original will be barely 10 years old when the remake arrives, making it the tightest turnaround between an animated Disney film and its live-action adaptation.
One user on X wrote: “Usually, they wait decades to make the live-action remakes to hit that nostalgia. Weird to force this one out when the animated sequel literally just dropped two years ago.”
Not all responses were negative. Another X user wrote that Laga’aia “looks absolutely perfect in the trailer.”
Despite complaints, Disney’s live-action remake business has proven extremely lucrative. “Lilo & Stitch” broke box office records last year, and a live-action sequel is planned for 2028.
The original “Moana” earned $643 million worldwide in 2016, and “Moana 2” surpassed $1 billion globally.
“Moana” opens in theaters July 10, 2026.
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