Disney is preparing to launch another major live-action remake, but this time the stakes feel considerably higher.
Following the fallout surrounding Snow White earlier this year, the studio is now turning its attention toward Moana, the reimagining of its 2016 animated hit that is currently slated for release on July 10, 2026. With production moving through post-production and marketing beginning to ramp up, Disney appears to be treating the film as one of the defining theatrical releases of its upcoming slate.
The company’s live-action strategy hit a rough patch after Snow White struggled both commercially and publicly. Directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, the film spent years under scrutiny before arriving in theaters. Debate surrounding casting, story decisions, visual effects, and creative direction followed the project almost from announcement through release.
Despite that setback, Disney has shown little sign of slowing its remake pipeline. One of the clearest examples is Tangled, the upcoming adaptation of the 2010 animated musical from director Michael Gracey. The cast includes Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider, Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel, and Diego Luna in a mystery role that Disney has not yet detailed publicly.
Still, while Tangled continues developing behind the scenes, Moana has increasingly become the centerpiece of Disney’s live-action plans.
The original animated film was already one of Disney Animation’s defining modern successes before the franchise expanded further with 2024's Moana 2. The sequel surprised industry analysts by crossing $1 billion worldwide, giving Disney renewed confidence in the property just as work on the live-action version accelerated.
Initially, Disney planned to release Moana in 2025. Those plans changed once Moana 2 became a larger priority for the studio, resulting in the remake moving back to 2026.
The film reunites audiences with Dwayne Johnson’s Maui, with the actor returning to portray the demigod in live action after voicing him in the animated feature nearly ten years ago. Johnson is also producing the adaptation and has repeatedly stressed the personal significance of the material.
When Disney announced the project in April 2023, Johnson spoke extensively about the film’s ties to Polynesian culture, describing the remake as a tribute to Pacific Island storytelling and traditions.
“We are so excited and happy to announce that a live-action reimagining of Moana is in the works,” Johnson said at the time. Johnson later expanded on those ideas by calling the story “my culture — emblematic of our people’s grace, mana, and warrior strength.”
The production itself appears to reflect that commitment. Reports indicate filming occurred across Hawaii and other Pacific Island locations, with Disney aiming to create environments that feel authentic to the cultures and geography that inspired the original animated world.
Directing duties fall to Thomas Kail, whose previous work on Hamilton made him one of the most recognizable names in contemporary stage direction. Although Kail has not previously directed a feature film, Disney appears confident his theatrical experience can translate the scale and emotional intensity of Moana into live action.
The screenplay comes from Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, both of whom have spoken about the ways live action alters the storytelling approach. Miller has explained that the adaptation will lean into emotional realism more heavily than the animated version, particularly when it comes to the characters’ physical experiences and emotional reactions.
According to Miller, the goal is not simply to recreate the animated movie scene-for-scene, but to make the world feel more immediate and tangible for audiences.
That philosophy also extends to the filmmaking process itself. Disney is reportedly relying on practical environments, real ocean photography, and grounded performances to separate the adaptation from its animated counterpart while still retaining the familiar framework of the original narrative.
As expected, music remains central to the project. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina are both returning for the remake, preserving key creative voices from the original soundtrack that helped make songs like “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome” global hits.
One of the biggest changes comes in front of the camera with newcomer Catherine Laga‘aia taking over the role of Moana. The young actress is expected to make her feature-film breakthrough through the project, while original voice actor Auliʻi Cravalho remains involved behind the scenes as an executive producer.
Cravalho previously addressed the casting transition by emphasizing the importance of cultural representation within the franchise. “It is absolutely vital that casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell,” she explained.
Disney’s investment in Laga‘aia now extends far beyond the film itself. The actress has become one of the centerpiece figures featured in the studio’s updated corporate imagery promoting its various entertainment brands.
As Disney highlights its collection of franchises, Laga‘aia appears alongside characters including Nick and Judy from Zootopia, Din Djarin and Grogu from Star Wars, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom from Marvel Studios, Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, Woody from Toy Story, and Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich from Searchlight Pictures’ Wild Horse Nine.
The move effectively positions Laga‘aia as one of the new public faces of Walt Disney Studios at a time when the company is searching for stability within its theatrical lineup. The supporting ensemble also reinforces Disney’s emphasis on Pacific Island casting. John Tui portrays Chief Tui, Frankie Adams plays Sina, and Rena Owen appears as Gramma Tala.
Story details suggest the adaptation will largely follow the animated original, centering on Moana’s ocean voyage to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save her people. Even so, the filmmakers continue to insist the tone and presentation will feel substantially different because of the grounded filmmaking approach.
Audience response to early footage has been mixed online, but Disney is clearly treating Moana as a major event film regardless of that reaction.
Whether the remake can recreate the success of the original — and help restore confidence in Disney’s live-action strategy after Snow White — may ultimately determine how aggressively the studio continues revisiting its animated catalog in the years ahead.
How do you feel about the new Moana movie? Let us know in the comments down below!
If The Rock is in it – I’m in. We read about how kind he is in real life and IMO if it helps him tell a story that is part of his culture, you know he will give the role everything he can. I predict Moana may be a success.