November 18, 2025 | 03:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The first trailer for the “Moana” live-action has just dropped, giving fans a glimpse of the magical ocean, the vibrant village of Motunui, and the stars who will be leading the film. The movie is set to hit cinemas on July 10, 2026, and stays faithful to what fans remember from the 2016 animated film.
With the heart of the story still centered on Moana sailing across the ocean to save her island, the “Moana” live-action features both new and returning stars. For the titular role, newcomer Catherine Laga’aia is seen gracefully posing on the boat and singing the iconic “How Far I’ll Go.”
The 18-year-old Laga’aia was born in Sydney, Australia, with roots tracing back to Samoa—her grandfather from Fa’aala, Palauli, in Savai’i, and her grandmother from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu. Reflecting this connection to Moana, she highlights her excitement, saying she feels “honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me,” she said, as quoted from Yahoo! Entertainment.
And while Laga’aia steps into the role of Moana, Dwayne Johnson reprises his role from the animated film. His comeback brings Maui to life through the authenticity of his Samoan heritage. Johnson also expands his role behind the scenes, serving as a producer on the project.
Not only is Dwayne Johnson returning from the original animated film to take part in the live-action remake, but Auli’i Cravalho is also involved in bringing “Moana” back to the screen. Though she isn’t portraying Moana this time, Cravalho takes a significant behind-the-scenes position as an executive producer.
Against this background, Cravalho explained her decision in a May 2023 Instagram video, stating, “I believe it is absolutely vital that the casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell, so as an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit, and emotional strength.”
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