Disney has cast Catherine Laga‘aia as the new lead for the live-action adaptation of “Moana,” where she will star alongside Dwayne Johnson, who returns as Maui. The 17-year-old actress from Sydney, Australia, shared her excitement about taking on the role. “Moana is one of my favorites, and I’m thrilled to bring this character to life,” Laga‘aia said. “With my heritage rooted in Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i, and Leulumoega Tuai on ‘Upolu in Samoa, it’s an honor to celebrate Samoa and Pacific Island cultures, and to represent young girls who look like me.”
The cast also features John Tui from Auckland, New Zealand, as Chief Tui, Moana’s father; Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams as Moana’s mother, Sina; and Rena Owen from Bay of Islands, New Zealand, as the cherished Gramma Tala.
Production for the film is set to begin this summer, aiming for a release on July 10, 2026. Thomas Kail, known for his work on “Hamilton” and “Grease Live,” will direct the movie. The screenplay is crafted by Jared Bush, who penned the original “Moana” screenplay, and Dana Ledoux Miller, a Samoan writer known for Netflix’s “Thai Cave Rescue” and co-founding the Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK).
The project is produced by Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia through their Seven Bucks Productions, along with Beau Flynn of FlynnPictureCo. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the composer behind the original film’s songs, is also on board as a producer. Executive producers include Scott Sheldon (FlynnPictureCo.), Auli‘i Cravalho (the original voice of Moana), and Charles Newirth. Cravalho, in her executive producer role, will mentor Laga‘aia for the part. She has been an advocate for expanding the “Moana” universe, which also includes the upcoming animated sequel “Moana 2,” set to premiere on November 27, where she reprises her voice role.
