If you grew up humming How Far I’ll Go, buckle up — Disney just dropped the first full trailer for the live-action Moana remake on March 23, 2026, and the internet is already buzzing. Here’s everything you need to know, broken down fast.
Table of Contents
Live-Action Moana at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 10, 2026 |
| Director | Thomas Kail (Hamilton) |
| Moana | Catherine Laga’aia (newcomer) |
| Maui | Dwayne Johnson (reprising) |
| Screenplay | Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller |
| Music | Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, Mark Mancina |
| Original Film | 2016 animated classic — $643M worldwide |
What the Moana Trailer Shows
The story follows Moana as a terrible curse tied to demigod Maui reaches her island. Answering the ocean’s call, she sets out to find Maui and restore the stolen Heart of Te Fiti before all is lost.
The trailer highlights Maui’s shape-shifting powers, his arc from a self-interested demigod to a genuine partner, and yes — he does drop a “You’re welcome.” Gold Derby
Visually, the film leans hard into real-world Polynesian landscapes. Production took place across Hawaii and other Pacific islands to maintain cultural authenticity, while Atlanta studios handled the heavy technical sequences and water tank work.
Easter Eggs You Might Have Missed
The trailer features familiar moments like Maui’s partial shark transformation, Moana’s scenes with Gramma Tala, the battle with Te Kā, and interactions with fan-favourites Pua and Hei Hei. PRIMETIMER It’s practically a scene-for-scene love letter to the original — but now in live-action.
The trailer also features the iconic song I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors), while the Oscar-nominated How Far I’ll Go is expected to return under Lin-Manuel Miranda’s direction. National Today
The shiny crab Tamatoa and the lava creature Te Kā also appear briefly in the footage — blink and you’ll miss them
Cast & Who’s Behind It
Notably, original voice actress Auli’i Cravalho declined to reprise her role, wanting to give another Pacific Islander the opportunity — she returns instead as executive producer. IMDb
Johnson said about the project: the film is special to him as a showcase of Polynesian culture, and that the team felt a strong responsibility to honor the animated original.
The supporting cast includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala — all Pacific Islander actors, keeping the cultural representation authentic.
Learn more about the rich Polynesian mythology that inspired the original film on Wikipedia.
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FAQs
Q: When is the live-action Moana releasing in theaters?
The film hits theaters on July 10, 2026 — timed to mark the 10th anniversary of the beloved 2016 animated original.
Q: Is Dwayne Johnson playing Maui in the live-action Moana?
Yes, The Rock reprises his role as demigod Maui, complete with detailed prosthetics, the iconic fishhook, and his signature larger-than-life energy.
