by: Alana Brown-Davis
It’s time to sail back into the seas as an official trailer is released for the live action version of ‘Moana’. The remake stars Catherine Laga’aia as the titular character and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, the fallen demigod who aids Moana on her quest to save her island and family.
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said 17-year-old Laga‘aia. “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.”
John Tui will portray Moana’s father Chief Tui, Frankie Adams will portray Moana’s mother Sina and Rena Owen will star as Gramma Tala.
The live action ‘Moana’ was first announced in spring 2023 at a shareholder meeting. This marks the highest turnaround of an animated Disney film since the original is barely a decade old. The original film was directed by John Masker and Ron Clements with writing done by Jared Bush. Bush returns as a co-screenwriter along with Dana Ledoux Miller. Thomas Kail is directing and Johnson, and others are set to produce. Original score writer Lin Manuel-Miranda returns as a producer.
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‘Moana’ premieres in theaters July 10,2026.