Moana Live-Action Remake: Dwayne Johnson Returns, Newcomer Catherine Laga’aia as Moana

0:00It's March 23rd. This is entertainment and celebrity news today. AI powered stories from the spotlight. Disney has announced a live-action remake of its hit animated film Moana, set for release in United States theaters on July 10th, 2026. The movie brings back Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui, with newcomer Catherine Laga Aya stepping into the lead role as Moana. Thomas Kale directs this fresh take on the Oscar-nominated adventure. The story follows Moana as she he's the ocean's call and sets sail beyond her island home of Motonui alongside Maui. Their quest aims to bring back prosperity to her people. Behind the scenes, Johnson produces alongside Bo Flynn, Danny Garcia, Hyrum Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Fans have mixed feelings about early looks at the film, especially the design for Sharkhead Maui and other characters. Some online backlash highlights concerns over changes from the original animated version. Original Moana voice actress Ali-E Kravalho joins as an executive producer, along with Kale

1:05and others. This ties the new project closely to the animated roots. Meanwhile, you can catch the original Moana and its sequel streaming right now on Disney Plus, building hype as the live-action version sales toward. Summer debut.