Disney has unveiled a new trailer and poster for Moana, along with an “Artistry of Moana” featurette that offers a closer look at the film’s craft, music, and visual world. The new footage puts the spotlight on Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson, who returns as Maui, while also leaning into the scale, color, and heart that made the animated film such a standout. With the live-action reimagining heading to theaters this summer, Disney’s latest push makes clear that the film wants to feel both familiar and cinematic in a much bigger way.
The Ocean Calls in a New Way
The trailer sells the film on scale first. Moana’s journey already carried a sweeping sense of adventure, and this new look suggests Disney wants that same spirit to feel even more immediate in live action. The ocean, the islands, and the mythology all seem built to play larger on the big screen, while the return of Maui gives the movie an easy link to the version audiences already know and love.
Catherine Lagaʻaia also looks positioned to carry the film’s emotional center. Moana has always worked because she feels driven, compassionate, and stubborn in the right ways. That core matters more than spectacle, and Disney seems to understand that. The trailer pushes the adventure, but it still keeps Moana herself at the heart of everything.
Craft, Music, and Legacy Take Center Stage in Moana
The new featurette adds another layer to the rollout by focusing on the artistry behind the movie. Alongside Johnson and Lagaʻaia, the behind-the-scenes look includes commentary from director Thomas Kail, costume designer Liz McGregor, and choreographer Tiana Nonosina Liufau. That gives the campaign a stronger emphasis on the people shaping the film’s look, movement, and cultural texture.
RELATED: Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer Kicks Off Peter Parker’s Hard Reset
The creative lineup behind Moana gives the project real weight. Kail directs, while Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda produce. Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth, and Auliʻi Cravalho serve as executive producers, which gives the film a meaningful connection back to the animated version through the original voice of Moana. The music also remains a major draw, with original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina, plus an original score by Mancina.
The supporting cast helps round out that world. John Tui plays Chief Tui, Frankie Adams plays Sina, and Rena Owen takes on the role of Gramma Tala. That cast gives the film an important family anchor, which should help balance the spectacle with the emotional roots that made Moana resonate in the first place.
A Summer Voyage Begins Soon
Moana sails exclusively into theaters on July 10, 2026. Audiences will be able to experience the live-action reimagining on the big screen when it opens this summer.
Featured in: What Can I Say Except NO (Topic of discussion.)
Remake of: Moana (This is an live-action remake of the feature)
Are you sold on Disney’s live-action take on Moana from this new trailer? How do you think Catherine Lagaʻaia and Dwayne Johnson look together in these first major previews? Which part of Moana matters most to you, the music, the visuals, or the heart of the story? Share your thoughts in the comments or @me.
KEEP READING: BEYBLADE X Goes Global With Bangkok Finals, Roblox Battles, and New Hasbro Launchers
Leave a Reply