Catherine Laga'aia in the live-action 'Moana.' Courtesy of Disney Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson are set to make a splash with the first trailer for Disney's live-action feature adaptation of Moana. Director Thomas Kail's remake of the original 2016 animated film hits theaters July 10, 2026. The trailer includes Laga'aia's title character performing the song "How Far I'll Go," which was feature in the initial movie. Rounding out the cast are John Tui as Moana's father, Chief Tui; Frankie Adams as Moana's mother, Sina; and Rena Owen as Moana's Gramma Tala. Related Stories Business Disney and YouTube TV Have a Deal: ESPN and ABC Return to Streaming Service After Two Week Blackout Lifestyle GQ's Will Welch on Managing Men of the Year Franchise and That Viral Sydney Sweeney Interview The Moana trailer offers the first look at the denizens of Motunui, Johnson's shape-shifting demigod Maui and the intimidating tribe of Kakamora. Moana centers on wayfinder Moana (Laga'aia) venturing beyond her island of Motunui with the help of Maui (Johnson) in an attempt to save her people. Kail helmed the live-action movie from a script by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller. Johnson, Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Lin-Manuel Miranda serve as producers. Executive producing are Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth and Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 film and its 2024 theatrical sequel. Johnson originated the role of Maui in directors John Musker and Ron Clements' 2016 animated Moana opposite Cravalho as the title character. Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger and Rachel House rounded out the voice cast for the film that collected $643 million at the global box office ($870 million today). Miranda earned an Oscar nomination for the original song "How Far I'll Go," and the movie was also nominated for best animated feature. Live-action remakes of popular animated properties continue to be a priority for Disney. The studio recently put a new version of 2010's Tangled back in development after it was paused earlier this year following Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot's live-action Snow White underperforming at the box office. Disney had a massive summer hit with the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, while Barry Jenkins' prequel movie Mufasa: The Lion King also had a strong showing when it debuted late last year. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up united kingdom Bridget Jones Statue Unveiling Sees Renée Zellweger and 'Mad About the Boy' Cast Reunite Zoe Saldana James Cameron Talks Digital Advances For 3D Action Fantasy 'Avatar: Fire And Ash: "We've Got to Evolve It" World Lens TIFFCOM How AI Helped One Student Make the Movie He Couldn't Afford Wicked: For Good Glinda and Elphaba Reunite to Confront the Wizard in Early 'Wicked: For Good' Scene Netflix 'Wake Up Dead Man': Josh O'Connor is a Murder Suspect and Daniel Craig's Crime-Solving Sidekick in Latest Trailer Oscar Isaac Cinematographer Dan Laustsen on Crafting 'Frankenstein' With Guillermo del Toro: "We're Not Afraid of the Darkness" united kingdom Bridget Jones Statue Unveiling Sees Renée Zellweger and 'Mad About the Boy' Cast Reunite Zoe Saldana James Cameron Talks Digital Advances For 3D Action Fantasy 'Avatar: Fire And Ash: "We've Got to Evolve It" World Lens TIFFCOM How AI Helped One Student Make the Movie He Couldn't Afford Wicked: For Good Glinda and Elphaba Reunite to Confront the Wizard in Early 'Wicked: For Good' Scene Netflix 'Wake Up Dead Man': Josh O'Connor is a Murder Suspect and Daniel Craig's Crime-Solving Sidekick in Latest Trailer Oscar Isaac Cinematographer Dan Laustsen on Crafting 'Frankenstein' With Guillermo del Toro: "We're Not Afraid of the Darkness"