♫"What can I say, except you're welcome?"♪
A new international poster for Disney’s upcoming live-action Moana has been released, spotlighting Catherine Lagaʻaia as the fledgling seafarer alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returning as Maui.
The film is set to arrive in North American theaters on July 10, bringing the ocean-spanning story back to the big screen in a new live-action form.
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade since we first set sail with Moana back in 2016.
With the animated sequel arriving just recently in 2024 (and a third animated pic on the way), the momentum around this franchise hasn't slowed down one bit.
With the live-action remake hitting theaters in just a few months, the real question is - if this version dominates the box office, how long will Disney wait to greenlight a live-action follow-up?
Previously speaking on going from voicing Maui to playing him in live-action, Johnson stated, "Playing Maui has been the gift of a lifetime. Growing up as a Samoan — half Samoan and half black — in Samoan culture, Polynesian culture? We’re proud people. Proud of our culture. And what Moana has represented is a really awesome global embrace of Polynesian culture, our values and our qualities and our pride and our mana," said the Fast and Furious actor back in November.
Online reaction to the reveal of Johnson's live-action Maui has not been kind, to say the least.
Fans have compared the costume design to someone in a Spirit Halloween Maui costume, or likened the hair and makeup quality to be on the same level as someone appearing in an SNL skit.
Still, Moana just might be too big to fail at this point, as both the animated movie and its sequel have been highly profitable for Disney. Furthermore, Moana regularly ranks as one of the top 3 most-watched offerings on Disney+, year after year.
In Disney’s live-action adaptation of the beloved Oscar®-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. The film is directed by Emmy® and Tony Award® winner Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”); produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and executive produced by Thomas Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth and Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated features “Moana” and “Moana 2.” Audiences can experience the brilliant cinematic sights, sounds and songs of “Moana” in U.S. theaters on July 10, 2026.