By: Zoe Chen

Catherine Laga’aia will play Moana in the live action movie of Moana.

She will also be joined by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who was the voice actor of Maui in the original movie, will join her, returning to his character Maui in the new live action movie.

This live action film was set to come out on June 27, 2025, but has been pushed back about 13 months and will now be released on July 10, 2026, which I am sure has irritated some people who are eagerly awaiting the film.

Catherine Laga’aia is a 17-year-old from Sydney, Australia. She reported that she was “really excited” to be playing Moana in the live action film, mainly because she shares the same Polynesian heritage with Moana.

“My grandfather comes from Fa’aala, Palauli, in Savai’i,” she said. “And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa.”

“I’m [honoured] to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”

Disney says the film will bring the story of “a young woman eager to pave her own path” in a “whole new way.”- BBC Newsround

However, not only will one Moana movie be released soon, but Moana 2 will be released even sooner than the live action movie. It will be released on November 27, 2024, and it will take us on yet another exciting adventure across the ocean.

Many people are super excited about both of these Moana movies releasing soon, and I can definitely say that I am one of those people.