First look at Disney’s live-action Moana has fans talking

Disney is officially bringing Moana back, and this time, it’s going live-action. The studio just dropped the first trailer, poster, and a behind-the-scenes featurette titled "Artistry of Moana," giving fans their first real look at the remake ahead of its July 10, 2026, release.

© Disney

At the center of it all is Catherine Lagaʻaia, stepping into the role of Moana, the fearless wayfinder who became a fan favorite when the original film dropped back in 2016.

Alongside her, Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui, reprising the role that helped define the animated film.

The new trailer leans into what made Moana hit in the first place: sweeping ocean visuals, that sense of adventure, and the emotional pull of Moana figuring out who she is and where she belongs.

The film is directed by Thomas Kail, best known for Hamilton, which already hints at a strong focus on performance and storytelling. Musically, the original Dream Team is back, too, with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina behind the songs and score.

The supporting cast also rounds out the world in a major way, with John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala - characters that grounded the original story emotionally and culturally.

The artistry of Moana featurette gives a deeper look at how seriously Disney is taking the adaptation, with insight from the cast and creative team on everything from costume design to choreography.

Disney has been on a live-action streak for years - from The Lion King to The Little Mermaid. But it has fans divided. The original is still relatively recent and deeply loved, which means expectations are high, and there are people who have less than high hopes.

"To all my moots whose favorite Disney movie is Moana, I am so sorry for the torture you're about to endure. As someone who's had her favorite Disney movie ruined by a remake, I can tell you it's going to be the worst feeling ever. I'll keep you in my thoughts," one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"The Moana trailer is probably the worst thing I've ever seen from a Disney live-action. I wasn't expecting much already, but even so, they managed to surprise me (with something much worse than I expected," added another.

There are still many people ready for the film. "It looks…fine…like a solid summer Blockbuster families will go see or those that really enjoy Moana. Not my place to judge what people like," one person tweeted.

Either way, it'll be exciting to see the new film.