Live-Action Disney Moana Announced, Expected Release in 2026
A live-action adaptation of Disney’s 2016 animated movie Moana has been announced, and while little has been released in the way of updates since April, there is plenty to look forward to. Set to release on July 10th, 2026, Moana is set to feature many of the same characters from the animated film.
In an exclusive report, new set photos of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s fully tattooed appearance as Maui were posted online by @reelnewsHawaii, along with pictures of Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, sporting her animated look. Both Cravalho and Johnson have confirmed that they will not return in the roles of Moana and Maui respectively.
Moana follows the journey of a young princess who sets out on a journey across the ocean to save her island. Along the way, she encounters various mythical creatures and ultimately decides to restore the heart of Te Fiti, with the help of the trickster demigod Maui. Dwayne Johnson, the producer and co-star, confirmed on his Instagram post, saying he would “rip up” for his new character as Maui. Catherine Laga’aia joins Johnson and has been confirmed to take over as Moana in the remake, replacing the previous cast, Cravalho, John Tui and Frankie Adams join Laga’aia to form part of the remake.
