Moana – First Live-Action Trailer Released

Disney has surprised audiences by releasing the first images of the live-action adaptation of Moana, marking the beginning of a new phase for one of its most beloved titles. Ten years after the release of the animated film, Moana's story returns to the big screen with real faces and a setting that focuses entirely on the physicality of natural elements.

The trailer immediately introduces Catherine Laga‘aia, a young Samoan actress who brings Moana to life with a simple presence rooted in her cultural identity. She is seen on a Motunui beach, drawn by the call of the sea: a few images are enough to reveal the character's emotional intensity and the performer's connection to her family origins.

Keeping the Moana Universe Alive

Alongside her, Dwayne Johnson reappears, once again as the demigod Maui. The short excerpt confirms that the actor naturally reprises the expressions and gestures that made the animated character iconic, strengthening the project in his role as producer.

One of the most surprising aspects of the trailer is the representation of the sea, which abandons the aesthetic of CGI to take on a tangible and imposing appearance. Director Thomas Kail chooses a more intimate approach, making the relationship between Moana and the ocean the visual focal point of the film.

Key island figures also return — Chief Tui, Sina, and Gramma Tala — along with the Kakamora, while the first notes of “How Far I’ll Go” accompany the images, with Mark Mancina again on the soundtrack and Lin-Manuel Miranda among the producers. The film will arrive in Italian cinemas on August 19, 2026.