Disney's latest look at its upcoming live-action remake came with an unexpected reveal.
The studio released a new trailer for Moana this week as ticket sales officially opened ahead of the film's July release. Alongside fresh footage of Catherine Laga'aia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, Disney quietly confirmed the return of another actor from the original animated movie.
It's a notable addition for a remake that has largely focused on introducing new performers to one of Disney's most popular modern franchises.
Moana first sailed into theaters in 2016 and became one of Walt Disney Animation's biggest successes of the last decade. The film earned more than $680 million worldwide and remained a fixture on streaming long after its theatrical run ended.
The story follows Moana, a young wayfinder chosen by the ocean to embark on a dangerous journey alongside the demigod Maui. Their mission is to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save Moana's island from a growing darkness.
Disney announced a live-action adaptation in 2023, with Johnson attached from the beginning. The actor returns as Maui, making him one of the few performers from the original cast to reprise his role.
Now, another familiar voice is joining him.
Disney Brings Back Tamatoa Actor
The new trailer confirms that Jemaine Clement will once again play Tamatoa.
The ocean chose them 🌊 Tickets are now on sale for #Moana! Only in theaters July 10.
The ocean chose them 🌊 Tickets are now on sale for #Moana! Only in theaters July 10. pic.twitter.com/gLnIl7UPZU
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) June 10, 2026
The giant coconut crab appeared in the original animated film as one of Moana and Maui's most memorable adversaries. Living in the underworld realm of Lalotai, Tamatoa spends his time collecting valuable objects and covering himself in shiny treasures.
The character became a standout among Disney fans thanks to his larger-than-life personality and musical number, Shiny.
Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the song remains one of the most recognizable moments from the original film.
Clement's return means Disney has retained another major piece of the animated movie as it transitions the story into live action.
His casting joins Johnson's return as one of the remake's most direct connections to the 2016 release.
Fans Question Disney's Approach
The trailer has generated discussion for reasons beyond casting.
Many viewers noted how closely the new footage resembles scenes from the original animated feature. Several sequences appear to recreate iconic moments almost shot-for-shot.
In contrast, movies such as Cinderella (2015) and The Little Mermaid (2023) introduced new ideas and expanded storylines. Snow White (2025) also made significant changes to its source material, though some of those decisions sparked intense debate among audiences.
Some fans have questioned whether Disney's latest remake offers enough new material.
“Looks neat but feels so pointless especially considering the original is not even a decade old,” wrote one X user.
“Why don’t you do me a favor, Disney, and stop making these disgusting live action remakes,” another wrote. “And just revive stuff like Gigantic, and that Tiana series instead.” (Disney famously axed a planned Disney+ series inspired by The Princess and the Frog in 2025.)
Others suggested Disney could have explored a completely different story.
“Just looks like AI, I just don't see why we needed this. A Maui prequel alternate story would have been better. This just looks identical to the original.”
We should all boycott the live action Moana movie, nobody asked for this and it’s going to suck and they’re gonna make a billion dollars and do it all over again. pic.twitter.com/qAhaP8btjd
— 🏂 (@BarnDaddy1) June 10, 2026
Disney's live-action Moana arrives in theaters on July 10.
Whether audiences embrace the film's faithful approach remains to be seen, but the studio has now confirmed that at least one more fan-favorite character will be making the journey back to the big screen.
Do you plan on seeing Moana on the big screen?
