Disney has just released the first teaser trailer of one of its most anticipated and controversial projects: the upcoming live-action remake of Moana. Starring Catherine Lagaʻaia and Dwayne Johnson (who, of course, voiced Maui in the original film), this is a full reimagining of the animated modern classic that captivated the hearts of audiences around the world and won multiple accolades back in 2016.
This trailer has met all of our expectations, and the film looks exactly how we believed it was going to look: it’s a surprisingly faithful live-action adaptation of the original 2016 film. Truth be told, its color grading, cinematography, and special effects look absolutely breathtaking, and it’s safe to say that reliving this modern classic on the big screen is going to be a beautiful experience. To no one’s surprise, Lagaʻaia delivers an incredible performance as the titular main character, and while Johnson’s Maui doesn’t show his face in the teaser trailer, it’s evident that he’ll portray the comedic demigod with the same amount of fun and charm he used in the animated version.
However, as stunning as this teaser looks, audiences can’t help but wonder: do we really need a live-action remake of a movie that isn’t even 10 years old yet? To make things even worse, its animated sequel, Moana 2, came out just last year, further demonstrating that the Moana IP still is a huge part of the current zeitgeist. Disney has been heavily criticized for relying way too much on live-action adaptations of their old films, but this one seems to be the straw that broke the camel’s back for most people, as it’s going to come out around the time of the original movie’s 10th anniversary. At least the other Disney remakes from recent years, like Lilo and Stich or Snow White, came out many decades after their respective animated counterparts.
Only time will tell how necessary this live-action remake is and if it’s going to resonate with modern audiences, as Moana is set to come out in theaters worldwide on July 10, 2026. It’s also important to remark that this film is being directed by award-winning Broadway director Thomas Kail and produced by a bunch of recognizable names, including both Dwayne Johnson himself and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the famed musician who also worked on the original film’s award-winning soundtrack.
