Moana Live-Action Trailer Arrives—First Look at Disney’s Remake

Look, we all knew it was coming. In the great circle of life or at least the great circle of corporate synergy—Disney has finally dropped the full-length trailer for the live-action Moana today, March 23, 2026. While the animated original is barely a decade old, the House of Mouse is determined to prove that if you can’t beat ’em, just remake ’em in high-definition CGI that looks suspiciously like a very expensive insurance commercial.

The Rock as Maui: Big Muscles, Bigger Hair

The main event here is, of course, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui. It’s a rare move to see an original voice actor play their character in the flesh, and the results are... distinctive. Johnson is clearly in "Final Boss" shape, and the CGI animated tattoos are a technical marvel, but there’s no ignoring that wig. It’s giving "superstar selling you a subscription service," but hey, at least he’s having fun.

The trailer highlights Johnson performing a snippet of "You're Welcome," and while his charisma is undisputed, seeing a real-life man argue with a flat, animated version of himself on his own chest is a level of meta-cinema we weren't entirely prepared for in 2026.

A New Star Is Born (And Those Familiar Tunes)

Stepping into the navigator's shoes is newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia, who appears to be the real heart of this production. The trailer highlights her performing "How Far I’ll Go," and honestly, the girl can sing. Director Thomas Kail, of Hamilton fame, seems to be sticking closely to the shot-for-shot remake blueprint that Disney loves so dearly.

The footage gives us a look at the supporting cast, including John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as a very poignant Gramma Tala. We also get glimpses of a realistic (and slightly terrifying) Tamatoa and a lava-drenched Te Kā. And yes, Heihei and Pua are back, though Pua actually gets to go on the boat this time. Progress!

Is It Worth the Voyage?

The film hits theaters on July 10, 2026, strategically placed after the massive success of Moana 2 in 2024. While some might call this a "desperate cash-in," the visuals of the Pacific islands are undeniably stunning. It looks grand, it looks expensive, and it looks exactly like the movie you already have on Disney+ but with fewer pixels and more pores.

Whether we needed a live-action version of a film that is still effectively "new" is a debate for the comments section, but Disney is betting big that we’ll all be back in theaters this summer to say "You're Welcome" one more time.

Are you sailing with The Rock or staying on the reef? Drop your thoughts on the trailer in the comments below!