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Moana 2026: First Reactions
The Hollywood Reporter • • general
Key Points:
- Disney's live-action remake of Moana premiered at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, with early social media reactions being mixed to negative, despite official reviews being embargoed until July 8.
- Directed by Thomas Kail, the film stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, replacing Auliʻi Cravalho from the original animated films, while Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as Maui.
- The live-action movie follows two successful animated Moana films, with the original 2016 release achieving critical acclaim and strong box office returns, and the 2024 sequel earning over $1 billion worldwide despite lower critical ratings.
- The creative team includes returning writers Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, composer Mark Mancina, and songwriter Lin Manuel Miranda, featuring classic songs from the original films.
- Moana (2026) continues Disney's trend of live-action remakes of animated classics, a strategy with varied commercial and critical success, and is set for theatrical release on July 10.
