Quick Facts
| Film | Moana (2026 live-action) |
| Director | Thomas Kail (feature directorial debut) |
| Starring | Catherine Laga’aia (Moana), Dwayne Johnson (Maui) |
| Composer | Mark Mancina (score) |
| Songwriters | Lin-Manuel Miranda & Opetaia Foa’i (returning from the 2016 original) |
| Theatrical Release | July 10, 2026 (originally set for June 27, 2025; delayed a year) |
| Soundtrack Release | June 26, 2026, Walt Disney Records |
| Studio | Walt Disney Pictures / Seven Bucks Productions |
Disney’s live-action Moana is now out in theaters as of July 10, 2026. Earlier reports on this page pointed to a June 27, 2025 release — that was indeed the film’s original target date, but Disney pushed it back a full year (to create separation from the animated Moana 2) before it finally arrived this July. Thomas Kail, the Emmy- and Tony-winning director behind the Hamilton film, directs from a screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Cast: Who Plays Moana and Maui?
Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as the demigod Maui from the animated films. The title role of Moana went to Catherine Laga’aia, a then-17-year-old newcomer from Sydney, Australia, marking her feature film debut. The supporting cast includes John Tui as Chief Tui (Moana’s father), Frankie Adams as Sina (Moana’s mother), Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, and Jemaine Clement, who also returns to voice/perform the giant crab Tamatoa. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced the animated Moana, does not appear on screen in this version but serves as an executive producer and contributes vocals to a new end-credits song.
Release Date History
Development was announced by Dwayne Johnson in April 2023, with Thomas Kail hired as director the following month. Casting and filming were delayed by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike; principal photography ultimately ran in Atlanta and Hawaii between July and November 2024. The film was originally dated for June 27, 2025, but following the announcement that Moana 2 would become a theatrical release rather than a Disney+ series, Disney moved the live-action remake a year later to July 10, 2026, timed to the 10th anniversary of the original animated film.
Who Composed the Moana (2026) Soundtrack?
Mark Mancina, who scored the original 2016 animated film and Moana 2, returned to compose the score. Songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda also returned, alongside Opetaia Foa’i of the Oceanic music group Te Vaka, both of whom co-wrote songs for the original film. Miranda wrote a new song for the remake, “Along the Way,” with an end-credits version performed by Auli’i Cravalho, Catherine Laga’aia, and Dwayne Johnson. The full soundtrack album was released by Walt Disney Records on June 26, 2026.
Moana (2026) Soundtrack List
The soundtrack keeps beloved songs from the original — including “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome” — alongside new arrangements and additions:
- Tulou Tagaloa – Olivia Foa’i, Opetaia Foa’i & Matatia Foa’i
- An Innocent Warrior – Olivia Foa’i & Sulata Foai-Amiatu
- Where You Are – John Tui, Frankie Adams, Emma Puahi-Shapazian, Amaya Masoli, Rena Owen, Catherine Laga’aia & Te Vaka
- How Far I’ll Go – Catherine Laga’aia
- We Know The Way – Moses Mackay, Opetaia Foa’i & Te Vaka
- How Far I’ll Go (Reprise) – Catherine Laga’aia
- You’re Welcome – Dwayne Johnson
- Shiny – Jemaine Clement
- Along The Way (Malaga Ki Ei) – Sulata Foai-Amiatu, Olivia Foa’i & Te Vaka
- I Am Moana (Song Of The Ancestors) – Rena Owen & Catherine Laga’aia
- Know Who You Are – Catherine Laga’aia, Olivia Foa’i, Sulata Foai-Amiatu, Opetaia Foa’i & Matthew Ineleo
- We Know The Way (Finale) – Catherine Laga’aia, John Tui, Frankie Adams & Te Vaka
- Along The Way – Auli’i Cravalho, Catherine Laga’aia & Dwayne Johnson
Box Office & Reception
Moana opened to roughly $43 million domestically and about $95 million worldwide against a reported $250 million production budget — a soft start that put it among the weakest opening weekends for a Disney live-action remake, alongside 2025’s Snow White. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film logged one of the lowest critic scores of any Disney live-action animated adaptation (around 34%), while earning a much warmer 90% audience score. Reactions have been split: critics generally found it a redundant retread of the animated original, while many general audiences and Polynesian cultural commentators praised Laga’aia’s performance and the film’s authenticity.
Where to Watch
Moana (2026) is currently playing exclusively in theaters. As with other recent Disney live-action titles, it is expected to arrive on Disney+ after its theatrical run, though Disney has not yet confirmed a streaming date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the live-action Moana get delayed?
Yes. It was originally scheduled for June 27, 2025, but Disney pushed it back a year to July 10, 2026, to avoid a scheduling clash with the animated Moana 2.
Who composed the live-action Moana soundtrack?
Mark Mancina returned to score the film, with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’i, all returning from the 2016 animated original.
Is Auli’i Cravalho in the live-action Moana?
She doesn’t appear on screen, but she’s an executive producer on the film and sings on the new end-credits song “Along the Way.”
Does the remake keep the original songs?
Yes. “How Far I’ll Go,” “You’re Welcome,” “We Know the Way,” and “Shiny” all return, alongside new additions like “Along the Way.”
How did Moana (2026) perform at the box office?
It opened softly, around $43 million domestically and $95 million worldwide against a $250 million budget, making it one of Disney’s weaker live-action remake openings.
Related reading: Movie Soundtrack hub and Disney+ hub.