Frequently asked questions
Is Auli’i Cravalho playing Moana in the live-action film?
No. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films, serves as an executive producer and mentor rather than the lead. The title role goes to Catherine Laga’aia, an Australian newcomer of Samoan heritage who was cast in June 2024 after an open search. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui.
Is the live-action Moana a musical with the original songs?
Yes. It is a musical retelling that carries over songs from the 2016 film, and the trailer features Laga’aia performing “How Far I’ll Go”. Lin-Manuel Miranda, a co-writer of the original score, is among the film’s producers, keeping the musical identity of the animated version intact.
Is the 2026 Moana a sequel, or connected to Moana 2?
Neither. It is a live-action reimagining of the 2016 animated film, not a continuation of the 2024 animated sequel Moana 2. The two are separate productions with different casts and crews. The remake retells Moana’s original voyage beyond Motunui with Maui, the story audiences first saw in the first animated movie.
Will the live-action Moana be on Disney+, or only in theaters at first?
It opens in theaters first. Disney has set a U.S. theatrical release of July 10, 2026, with Australia and New Zealand a day earlier on July 9. As of June 2026, Disney has not announced a Disney+ streaming date, though its films usually reach the service some months after release.
Why was the live-action Moana delayed to 2026?
Disney moved it to make room for the animated sequel. The remake was originally planned for 2025 before the studio shifted its calendar around Moana 2’s November 2024 launch. That sequel went on to pass $1 billion worldwide, and the live-action version settled into its July 10, 2026 date.
Does the 2026 Moana follow the same story as the original animated film?
Yes. The remake covers the same plot as the 2016 movie, following wayfinder Moana as she sails past her island’s reef with Maui to save her people. It is co-written by Jared Bush, who also co-wrote the original, so the core journey and characters carry over into the live-action version.