Hub
The clock above counts down to Moana (Live-Action), Disney's live-action retelling of the 2016 animated hit, opening July 10, 2026 with Catherine Laga'aia debuting as Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprising Maui.
Moana (Live-Action) is Disney's live-action remake of the 2016 animated feature, directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton on Disney+) and produced by Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hiram Garcia, and Beau Flynn. Newcomer Catherine Laga'aia, a Pacific-Islander actress with Samoan and Tongan heritage, plays Moana — a casting choice the production has emphasized as central to authenticity. Dwayne Johnson reprises Maui from the animated film.
After the live-action The Lion King's $1.66 billion worldwide haul in 2019 and Mufasa's December 2024 follow-up, Disney's live-action remake program has anchored its summer-tentpole slate. Moana is positioned as the marquee 2026 family-event release, with the original animated film having grossed over $682 million worldwide and the November 2024 sequel adding another $1 billion.
The film is expected to mirror the structure of the 2016 animated original — Moana's journey across the Pacific to restore the heart of Te Fiti — while expanding character backstory and Polynesian-cultural depth. Lin-Manuel Miranda is involved on songwriting alongside Mark Mancina and the original film's musical team. The Wayfinding open-water sequences are expected to be the centerpiece practical-effects achievement.
Moana (Live-Action) opens worldwide on July 10, 2026 from Walt Disney Studios, in standard, IMAX, RealD 3D, and premium-large-format presentations.
For more 2026 family-animation tentpoles, see the Super Mario Galaxy Movie countdown and the Toy Story 5 countdown.
When does Moana Live-Action release? July 10, 2026. Who plays Moana? Catherine Laga'aia in her feature debut. Is Dwayne Johnson back as Maui? Yes — he is both producing and reprising the role. Who directs? Thomas Kail (Hamilton, Fosse/Verdon).
