Directed by Thomas Kail and written by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, this live-action adventure filmstars Catherine Lagaʻaia, Dwayne Johnson, Frankie Adams, John Tui, and Rena Owen. Distributed by Disney, it will be released in French theaters on July 8, 2026, and revisits the 2016 animated film with a cast primarily from New Zealand.
The story follows a teenager called by the ocean who crosses the reef of her island, Motunui, for the first time. Her mission is to restore prosperity to her people. Accompanied by a shape-shifting demigod, she faces an unstable environment and encounters the Kakamora tribe, whose intentions complicate their progress.
The journey allows the heroine to assert her identity while embracing a legacy guided by her grandmother Tala. The duo she forms with Maui structures the entire journey, punctuated by cultural and musical elements, including a new interpretation of "I Am Moana."
The film is produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, according to Disney. Thomas Kail, winner of an Emmy and a Tony Award for Hamilton, is directing. Executive producers include Thomas Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth, and Auliʻi Cravalho, the original voice of Moana in 2016. The press release confirms the presence of Motunui, the Kakamora, and new musical interpretations. The adaptation is part of the studio's strategy to revisit its classics in live action.
The film is aimed at family audiences, with a tone focused on adventure and cultural transmission. The pace is driven by the journey, intergenerational relationships, and the dynamic between the young navigator and the demigod Maui.
Moana
Film | 2026
In theaters July 8, 2026
Adventure | Running time: n/a
By Thomas Kail | Starring Catherine Lagaʻaia, Dwayne Johnson, Frankie Adams
Original title: Moana
Nationality: United States
This adaptation offers a reinterpretation of the Disney classic, focusing on the journey of a young navigator determined to protect her people.
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