The live-action version of Disney’s Moana is sailing ahead, with new cast announcements aboard. The stars announced today join Dwayne Johnson, who will reprise his role as Maui from the original 2016 animated feature.
Catherine Laga‘aia (The Lost Flowers of Alice Heart) will be voyaging to Motunui and beyond as the titular adventurous teenager, who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. The coming remake is coming to theaters on July 10, 2026.
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said the 17-year-old Sydney, Australia, native. “My grandfather comes from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”
The newly announced cast also includes Auckland, New Zealander John Tui (Young Rock, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) as Moana’s no-nonsense father, Chief Tui; Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams (The Expanse, The Lost Flowers of Alice Heart) as Moana’s playful and strong-willed mother, Sina; and Rena Owen (Siren, The Orville), who hails from Bay of Islands, New Zealand, as the revered Gramma Tala.
“I am thrilled to have met Catherine, Rena, Frankie and John through this casting process,” said director Thomas Kail (Broadway’s Hamilton< Grease Live; Hulu’s We Were the Lucky Ones). “I am humbled by this opportunity, and I cannot wait to all be on set together. And there’s no better pair to be in a canoe with than Catherine and Dwayne — actually, trio: Heihei is ready, too.”
The new movie is produced by Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia via their Seven Bucks Productions and Beau Flynn via FlynnPictureCo. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the original songs, will also serve as producer. Executive producers include Scott Sheldon of FlynnPictureCo., Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 film, and Charles Newirth. Disney Animation veteran Jared Bush (2016’s Moana) and Samoan writer Dana Ledoux Miller (The Cave Rescue; co-founder of non-profit Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti [PEAK]) have been tapped for the screenplay.
The live-action adventure will be preceded by Moana 2 from Walt Disney Animation Studios, in theaters November 27.
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