Live-action Moana movie: Release date, cast & more

❘ Published: 2023-06-13T16:14:23

Disney

Moana was a major hit when it released back in 2016.

Since Disney has confirmed a live-action Moana movie, here’s everything we know about it including the announcement itself, cast, and more.

Several Disney classics have already returned to the big screen in the form of a live-action reimagining, including the likes of The Lion King, Aladdin, and Mulan.

The Little Mermaid constitutes the next of such projects, with the Halle Bailey-starring adaptation slated for a May 2023 theatrical release.

Now yet another beloved Disney princess will eventually receive the live-action treatment – Moana. Here’s what we know about the movie, so far.

Dwayne Johnson announces live-action Moana movie

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shared the news on social media on April 3. The actor who portrayed Maui in the original filmed an announcement video on a beach in Hawai’i with his daughters.

“We are so excited and happy to announce that a live-action reimagining of Moana is in the works,” he revealed.

Humbled to say we’re bringing #MOANA’s beautiful story to the live action big screen!#MAUI changed my life (miss you grandpa) and I’m honored to partner with @DisneyStudios to tell our story thru the realm of music & dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people🪝 pic.twitter.com/CxJFKQewUS
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 3, 2023

Does Disney’s Moana reimagining have a release date?

The live-action Moana movie will hit cinemas on June 27, 2025.

Johnson noted in the announcement video that he and his partners at Disney are “still very early in the process” of bringing Moana to life through a different lens.

However, there has been at least one development as the film has found its director in Thomas Kail, per The Hollywood Reporter. Kail is best known for directing the Tony-award winning musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, which is notable because both were created by Lin-Manuel Miranda who also wrote some of the music for Moana. While the live-action Moana will be Kail’s feature film debut, he did direct the Disney+ staging of Hamilton, so he definitely knows his way around a camera.

Who will star in the live-action Moana film?

At the time of writing, Dwayne Johnson is the only original cast member set to reprise his character. Several other beloved characters will return, though, including Moana, Gramma Tala, Te Fiti, Heihei the chicken, and Pua the pig.

According to Deadline, Moana’s voice actress Auli’i Cravalho will serve in an executive producer role alongside Johnson. In an Instagram video posted on May 19, Cravalho confirmed she will not reprise her role for the live-action remake.

The actress told fans: “In this live-action retelling, I will not be reprising the role. I believe it is absolutely vital the cast accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell.”

Cravalho added that as an executive producer, she’s excited to help find the next performer of Pacific Island descent to “portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit, and emotional strength.”

That’s everything publicly known about Moana’s live-action reimagining. Check out other TV & movies hubs below: