So, in some exciting Disney news, the company has announced the cast for the upcoming Live Action Moana!

Moana is a Disney animated film that follows the journey of a spirited and adventurous teenager named Moana as she sets sail on a daring mission to save her people. Along the way, she encounters various challenges, as well as discovering her own identity and inner strength. The film also celebrates Polynesian culture and mythology, showcasing themes of courage, self-discovery, and the importance of preserving one’s heritage.

MEET THE CAST OF THE LIVE-ACTION MOANA

(Pictured) Frankie Adams.
(Pictured) John Tui.
(Pictured) Rena Owen. Photo by Manfred Baumann.

Catherine Laga‘aia is set to embark on a journey to Motunui and beyond. She is a 17-year-old Sydney, Australia native who is overjoyed at the opportunity to play her favorite character.

“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites. 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.”

Catherine Laga’aia

The Live-Action Moana ensemble cast also features John Tui from Auckland, New Zealand, portraying Moana’s stern father, Chief Tui; Frankie Adams, a Samoan-New Zealand actress, playing the role of Moana’s spirited and determined mother, Sina; and Rena Owen, originally from Bay of Islands, NZ, taking on the role of the respected Gramma Tala. Additionally, Dwayne Johnson, known for voicing the charismatic demigod Maui in the 2016 animated film reprises his role.

Scheduled for release in theaters on July 10, 2026, Moana is directed by Thomas Kail, known for his work on Broadway’s “Hamilton,” and Disney+’s “Grease Live”.

Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia produced the new Live-Action Moana via their Seven Bucks Productions and Beau Flynn via FlynnPictureCo. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the original songs, will also serve as producer. Executive producers include Scott Sheldon of FlynnPictureCo., Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 film, and Charles Newirth. Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller have been tapped for the project. Bush, a veteran of Disney Animation, wrote the screenplay for 2016’s “Moana,” and Miller is a Samoan writer who created Netflix’s “Thai Cave Rescue” and co-founded the non-profit Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK). 

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