Jakarta, en.SERU.co.id – Disney is bringing the beloved animated adventure Moana to life in a new live-action version, set to hit theaters on July 10, 2026. As the third installment in the franchise, it marks the first live-action adaptation of the 2016 hit.
Here’s everything you should know ahead of time—no major spoilers included.
The Story
The film follows a similar path to the original animated movie. Moana, a brave young woman from the island of Motunui, is called by the ocean to embark on a journey with the demigod Maui. Their mission is to help restore prosperity to her people. Like the original, it’s a musical adventure filled with heart, humor, and memorable songs.
Cast and Creative Team
Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, reprising the role he voiced in the animated film. Newcomer Catherine Laga’aia stars as Moana in her feature film debut.
Supporting cast includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated movies, chose not to reprise the role on screen to give another Pacific Islander actress the opportunity, but she serves as an executive producer.
The film is directed by Thomas Kail (known for Hamilton) in his narrative feature debut. The screenplay comes from Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, the writers behind Moana 2. Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and several longtime collaborators are producing.
Key Details
Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).
Rating: PG (contains action and peril, some scary images, and mild rude humor).
Budget: Reportedly over $200 million.
The movie features the original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina, along with a score by Mancina.
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Dwayne Johnson has spoken passionately about the project since it was first announced:
“This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul…”
Franchise Context
The live-action Moana arrives ten years after the original animated film and follows the massive success of Moana 2 (2024), which crossed $1 billion at the global box office. It’s positioned as a major summer release for Disney.
Early trailers showcase stunning ocean visuals, impressive effects (especially Maui’s shapeshifting), and a strong emphasis on authentic Polynesian representation.
*(Sources: Official Disney website and trailers, Wikipedia, IMDb, The Hollywood Reporter, Production interviews)
