Disney’s live-action Moana has found its star. The studio just announced Catherine Laga‘aia will be playing the titular character alongside Dwayne Johnson who’s reprising his role as the demigod Maui.
New Zealander John Tui is on board to play Moana’s father, Chief Tui, and Samoan-New Zealander Frankie Adams will play Sina, Moana’s mother. New Zealander Rena Owen is set to play Gramma Tala.
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said 17-year-old Laga’aia. “My grandfather comes from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”
Thomas Kail (Hamilton! on Broadway and Disney+) is directing. Commenting on the cast, Kail said, “I am thrilled to have met Catherine, Rena, Frankie and John through this casting process. I am humbled by this opportunity, and I cannot wait to all be on set together. And there’s no better pair to be in a canoe with than Catherine and Dwayne—actually, trio: Heihei is ready, too.”
Disney’s targeting a July 10, 2026 theatrical release date.
“Moana will bring to life in a whole new way the story of a young woman eager to pave her own path,” reads Disney’s synopsis. “Celebrating the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders in a spectacular adventure, the production begins filming this summer.”
Dwayne Johnson is producing with Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia for Seven Bucks Productions. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the original songs and will also produce, along with FlynnPictureCo’s Beau Flynn. Auli‘i Cravalho, the voice of Moana in the 2016 animated film, is involved as an executive producer. Additional executive producers include Charles Newirth and FlynnPictureCo’s Scott Sheldon.
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