The live-action Moana remake is a bit puzzling since the original 2016 animated film still feels so “new,” but it’s moving forward and has found its leading lady.
Disney has confirmed (via Variety) that the actress chosen is Katherine Lagaia, who will star alongside Dwayne Johnson, who will reprise his role as the demigod Maui in both animated films.
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“My grandfather is from Fa’ala in Palaui, Savai’i. My grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of Upolu, Samoa. I am honored to have the opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls like myself,” the 17-year-old said when the news broke.
The film was officially announced in April 2023, with the addition of “Auckland, New Zealand native John Tui as Moana’s father, Chief Tui; Samoan-New Zealand actor Frankie Adams as Moana’s mother, Xena; and Reina Owen from New Zealand’s Bay of Islands as revered Grandma Tara.” The film is currently scheduled to begin filming this summer. Release date: July 10, 2026 In heart.
Behind the camera is Thomas Kail (Broadway’s Hamilton and Disney Plus’ Grease), who brings his extensive musical theatre experience to this colorful live-action adventure filled with memorable songs. Meanwhile, the script was cracked by Jared Bush, who worked on the original Moana screenplay, and Samoan writer Dana Ledoux Miller, who wrote Netflix’s Cave Rescue Thailand. Disney, a company desperate for a big win in the near future, seems to be taking a cautious approach with this remake, but if it plays its cards right, this approach could make it a truly convincing (although clearly unnecessary) remake.
The remake will be released about ten years after the animated original, and less than two years after Moana 2, which is scheduled to be released in theaters around the world in November this year.
