Disney finally gives fans a closer look at live-action Moana
Disney has finally dropped a fuller look at its live-action Moana, and yes, Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui with the hair, tattoos, bulk, larger-than-life energy, the whole shebang. The new trailer also gives us a better look at Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana, stepping into one of Disney’s most loved modern heroines as the film heads for its July 10, 2026 theatrical release.
Moana is not just another Disney title people casually remember. It is one of those films that people have incorporated into their daily lives. I mean, when you hear “I am Moana” there is an instant reaction, whether that is singing the songs or adding a quote to whatever comes next. So when Disney decided to bring that world into live action, the reaction was never going to be calm. Like the sea, it was always going to be filled with excitement, curiosity, and at least one collective side-eye.
The trailer leans hard into the familiar emotional DNA of the original. The ocean still feels like a character. Moana still carries that same pull toward something bigger than the island life that has tried to define her. And Maui still arrives with the kind of swagger that practically demands you remember who he is before he has even finished the sentence. You can almost hear the spirit of “You’re welcome” hovering over the whole thing, even before the film gets there.
Maui’s hair is already sparking debate online
But, if I’m being honest, the first thing I noticed was, Maui’s hair. That look has already sparked plenty of chatter online, with some viewers calling it distracting and others wondering whether the live-action version is getting a little too close to cosplay territory. Johnson and the filmmakers have defended the design, explaining that his transformation involved heavy prosthetics and a wig designed to work practically on set rather than relying entirely on CGI, which is a fair point. Johnson reportedly wears around 40 pounds of prosthetics for the role, which sounds exhausting enough before you even add ocean spray, heat, and the pressure of recreating a beloved character people have had in their heads for nearly a decade. But, the bigger question is not really about the wig, as much as it is about whether this version can hold onto the soul of the original. We know from previous Disney remakes, that is always the gamble. Recreating the look, the music, the landmarks, the sidekicks, and the nostalgia is great, but will they be able to keep the spirit intact?.
The real challenge is protecting the soul of the original
Moana worked because it was not only filled with adventure, but it was also deeply rooted in identity, ancestry, courage and calling. It gave kids a heroine who did not need to be rescued, and it gave adults a story about knowing who you are even when the world keeps trying to tell you otherwise. That is not easy to recreate just because you have prettier water and a bigger budget. What does help is that this film does not seem to be treating the source material lightly. The cast includes Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana, with Johnson reprising Maui, and the broader creative team has spoken about approaching the story with cultural care and respect for Polynesian heritage. Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original animated film, is also involved as an executive producer, which at least suggests this is not being handled like an empty nostalgia cash-in.
Why Catherine Lagaʻaia could be the heart of this remake
As for Catherine Lagaʻaia? She might end up being the thing that grounds all of this. You see, Moana has never been a character you can fake your way through. She needs warmth, stubbornness, emotional conviction and that quiet kind of bravery that does not always announce itself with fireworks. From the trailer, Lagaʻaia seems to understand that. There is a steadiness to her that matters. Moana was never about being the loudest person in the room, but rather the person that heard the call. A call to cross the horizon and stand with confidence saying, in one way or another, “I know who I am.” And that is what has spoken to the masses. It’s got nothing to do with Disney making a hit, and everything to do with meaning for the audiences.
Watch trailer here:
The remake only works if Moana still feels chosen by the ocean
So yes, the trailer gives us Maui with big hair. Familiar songs. Recognisable imagery, Hei Hei chaos, and all the visual reminders that we have, in fact, been here before. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes the point is not to do something completely different. It is to return to a story that still matters and see whether it can hit in a new way.
So the real test here is not whether the remake looks expensive or if the wig works in every frame. But whether, by the time the credits roll, it still feels like the ocean chose the right girl.
