First Teaser Trailer for Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’ Drops, Starring Catherine Laga’aia and Dwayne Johnson
Disney has released the first highly anticipated teaser trailer for the live-action adaptation of its hit animated musical, Moana, confirming the return of Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui and introducing Catherine Laga’aia in the title role. The footage showcases the majestic island of Motunui and the young actress’s powerful vocals, generating immense online excitement ahead of the film’s theatrical release in July 2026.
The Walt Disney Studios has unveiled the first official teaser trailer for its live-action reimagining of the 2016 Oscar-nominated animated hit, Moana, providing a first glimpse of the celebrated Oceanic adventure brought to the big screen. The footage, released on Monday, immediately highlights Australian-Samoan newcomer Catherine Laga’aia in the lead role of Moana, showing the seventeen-year-old performing a stirring rendition of the song “I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors)” amidst sweeping shots of the lush island of Motunui. The visual reveal confirms the high stakes of the adaptation, which seeks to respectfully re-create the vibrant aesthetic and cultural authenticity of the original film.
Reprising his iconic role from the animated feature is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who returns as the trickster demigod Maui, having also taken a producer role in the project. While the teaser gives only fleeting glimpses of Johnson’s live-action Maui, focusing instead on his character’s iconic shapeshifting transformations into an eagle and his famed fish hook, it builds momentum for the full reveal expected in subsequent trailers. The cast also features a strong ensemble of Pacific Island talent, including John Tui as Moana’s father, Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as her mother, Sina, and Rena Owen as the revered Gramma Tala. The film is directed by Emmy and Tony Award winner Thomas Kail of Hamilton fame, with original composer Lin-Manuel Miranda also serving as a producer. The live-action Moana adaptation is scheduled to arrive exclusively in theaters on July 10, 2026.
