Dwayne Johnson Returns as Maui in Moana Live Action – First Look Released

Grab your oars and prepare to sail! Disney just dropped the first trailer for the live-action remake. This quick glimpse reveals a stunning new star and massive production value. Seriously, fans are already obsessed with the authentic casting choices!

This remake is speeding to theaters faster than Tamatoa can grab a shiny thing. The trailer debuted on November 17, 2025, thrilling fans everywhere. We will see the full movie on July 10, 2026. This marks a new record for Disney’s live-action efforts. Can you believe it’s only ten years since the original film? That’s the quickest animated-to-live-action turnaround in their entire history!

The First Look: Waves, Voice, and a Shot-for-Shot Preview

The minute-long teaser starts with breathtaking ocean backdrops. We see our new heroine, Catherine Laga’aia, embodying the titular role beautifully. She immediately launches into a perfect rendition of “I Am Moana.” Fans couldn’t stop talking about her incredible pipes! The young star’s voice has a quality that sounds just like the animated classic.

Visually, the teaser is a shot-for-shot echo of the 2016 original movie. We got another look at the magnificent island of Motunui. The tricky demigod Maui also made his glorious, tattooed return.

The creative team behind this project is pure Hollywood royalty. Hamilton director Thomas Kail helms this adaptation. He brings a unique vision to the massive project. Oscar Faura served as the Cinematographer, capturing the Pacific Islands authentically. Principal photography wrapped between July and November 2024. The crew filmed everything in Atlanta, Georgia, and the stunning Hawaiian islands.

Meet Catherine Laga’aia: Our Authentic Polynesian Princess

The internet went absolutely bonkers after the trailer reveal. The standout star is, without a doubt, newcomer Catherine Laga’aia. This Australian actress has deep Samoan roots. Her maternal grandparents come from Fa’aala, Palauli, and Leulumoega Tuai. This authentic cultural representation truly adds quiet power to the production.

One Twitter user, @disneyanimals, tweeted: “Catherine Laga’aia has the pipes!” Another viewer quickly added, “She’s got Moana’s curls and voice!” People widely praised her heritage and the choice to cast her.

Fans feel her casting carries a real cultural heartbeat. She spoke to reporters recently about her new role. Laga’aia said she feels honored to represent young girls who look like her. She also confirmed that Moana is her favorite character. This vast project marks her very first lead role. Before this, she was on the Australian series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.

The Rock is Back! Who Else is in the Incredible Cast?

You cannot have a Moana remake without Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He is officially back in the role of the shapeshifting trickster god Maui. He voiced Maui in the 2016 animated film. Johnson made a conscious choice while filming the new movie. He wore a heavily tattooed suit instead of using deepfakes or excessive CGI. This was a smart move by the studio.

Disney was unwilling to risk damaging publicity by using AI.

Johnson is also a producer through Seven Bucks Productions, alongside Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia. Beau Flynn also produces via Flynn Picture Company.

The supporting cast is just as incredible and brings necessary authenticity. Auckland native John Tui plays Moana’s father, Chief Tui. The strong-willed mother, Sina, is played by Frankie Adams, a Samoan New Zealander. We also get the beloved Gramma Tala, portrayed by Rena Owen from New Zealand. Seeing this level of dedication to Pacific Islander representation is genuinely remarkable.

Heihei Drama and the Shocking CGI Debate

Okay, we have to talk about the CGI chicken, Heihei. This tiny sidekick always steals the show. The computer-generated Heihei caused a surprising split in online opinions. Some fans loved his new, realistic look. However, others found the chicken’s appearance quite odd.

Kotaku’s Zack Zwiezen had a hilarious reaction to the CGI chicken. He jokingly complained that the teaser “looks like an Unreal Engine fan-game.” He then quipped, “Give me a real chicken, I’m not going to let it!”

That one line sparked thousands of heated responses! This debate over the computer-generated imagery highlights a bigger concern. Some critics feel the remake is not original enough. Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier said the teaser is “very in the eye.” BuddyTV grouped the film with other recent remakes, such as The Lion King and Lilo & Stitch. Are we just “photocopying brilliance,” as one opinion piece feared? The trailer certainly does resemble the original.

Facebook reactions show a mix of curiosity and excitement right now. Fans are rejoicing over the intentional casting choices. Instagram users have particularly loved the authentic Pacific Island casting. One user commented, “Finally, cultural representation properly done!” Another wrote, “Catherine IS Moana!” This is huge for the younger generation, seeing themselves portrayed on screen.

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Passing the Baton: Music, Magic, and July 10, 2026

The new Moana live-action soundtrack will feature revised versions of the classic songs. Lin-Manuel Miranda penned the originals, and he is back for this latest version. The Oscar-nominated hit “How Far I’ll Go” will have new arrangements. Miranda is also producing the film with Johnson and Flynn.

Here is the biggest news: Auli’i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, is an executive producer! She confirmed in 2023 that she would not reprise the character on screen. Cravalho gracefully passed the baton to Laga’aia. This choice ensures the film retains genuine cultural authenticity.

She shared her thoughts on Instagram, saying that being chosen for Moana at age 14 completely changed her life. Cravalho told TheWrap that handing over the baton felt really important. She hopes to see more Pacific Islanders succeed in Hollywood. The actress even said, in a tearful voice, “I am eager to see the new Moana.” Her role as a producer is to ensure cultural representation remains authentic.

The original 2016 soundtrack dominated the music world. It spent 62 weeks atop the Billboard Soundtracks charts. That album reached number two on the Billboard 200. Moana 2’s soundtrack also debuted high on many Billboard charts. Can the Moana live-action soundtrack replicate that massive success? We can’t wait to find out!

The film was officially announced back in April 2023. Disney President Bob Iger and Dwayne Johnson presented the exciting news together. Now, the question remains: Can Moana Live Action rival the success of Moana 2? Based on the authentic casting and stunning visuals, the chances look excellent! Keep your calendar marked for the July 10, 2026, release date!

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