By: Selena Lin

Disney has announced a live-action Moana remake. It will be released in theaters on July 10, 2026. Moana is directed by Thomas Kail, who helmed Hamilton on Broadway and Disney+, Grease Live, and the first and last episodes of Hulu’s lauded limited series We Were the Lucky Ones.

What is the movie Moana about? In this movie, an adventurous teenager named Moana sets out on a mission to save her people. During her journey, she meets the once-powerful demigod Maui. They started out with rocky beginnings but eventually worked together to complete Moana’s mission. Their action-packed voyage causes them to encounter dangerous monsters and seemingly impossible odds. In the end, Moana’s mission is accomplished, and she learns what faith and perseverance can accomplish.

Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock,” will play Maui, while Catherine Laga’aia, a 17-year-old actress from Sydney, Australia, will play Moana. She said she was “really excited” to play Moana, particularly because she shares Moana’s Polynesian heritage. Her grandfather comes from Fa’aala, Palauli, in Savai’i, and her grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. The filming will take place on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, where Johnson grew up. “I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me,” Catherine said to BBC reporters.

Disney says the film will bring the story of a young woman eager to pave her own path in a new way.