Maui is the star of the new live-action Moana trailer
“It’s true that I have magnificent hair!”
Dwayne Johnson is everywhere on this raft!
He sings, dances, acts beautiful and leads the adventure in the new trailer for Moana in live-action, which has just been put online by Disney. A video which incidentally confirms the return of Jemaine Clement. The New Zealand actor will reprise the voice under the shell of the giant crab Tamatoa, which he already did in the original animated film.
As in the original, the story follows Vaiana, this time played in the flesh by the young Catherine Lagaʻaia, 17, who succeeds Auli’i Cravalho (who remains executive producer of the film). The intrepid teenager answers the call of the Ocean and leaves the Motunui coral reef for the first time. His mission: to save his island and its people. She meets the demigod Maui, played by Dwayne Johnson (who already did the voice in the cartoon).
In the casting, John Tui plays Chief Tui, father of Moana; Frankie Adams plays his mother Sina; and Rena Owen plays the wise-cracking Gramma Tala.
The film is directed by Thomas Kail (Emmy and Tony Award winner for “Hamilton“), who here marks his first major live-action Disney adventure. The screenplay is co-written by Jared Bush (already author of the original film) and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Mark Mancina, composer of the 2016 film, also returns, while Lin-Manuel Miranda serves as producer.
Moana in live-action will be released in cinemas on July 8, 2026 in France.
