If you have been standing at the edge of the water waiting for Moana update, wait no longer. FIrstly, we knew that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had joined the cast of the live-action Moana movie. But now, Moana has been cast as well. This will be played by Catherine Laga‘aia, who will play the adventurous teenager. By the sounds, this will not be a new story but instead a remake of the animated movie highlighting different areas of her heritage. The 17-year-old from Sydney, Australia, expressed excitement about portraying one of her favorite characters and highlighted her Samoan heritage. Moreover, Laga’aia had stated her pride in representing Pacific Island communities and young girls who look like her. This secures the bigger roles for the Moana live action cast.
Here is what Laga’aia had to say
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said the 17-year-old Sydney, Australia native. “My grandfather comes from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.” – From Disney Statement.
The rest of the cast of Moana Live Action
The cast also features Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams as Sina, Moana’s lively and determined mother. John Tui from Auckland will be playing Chief Tui, Moana’s strict father; and Rena Owen from Bay of Islands, NZ, as the wise Gramma Tala. And again, Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role from the 2016 animated version, as Maui, the demigod.
This will be directed by Thomas Kail, who is best known for his work on Hamilton and Grease Live. Currently, Moana is slated for a July 10, 2026 release. Kail expressed enthusiasm about working with the cast and described the experience as humbling. To keep with the movie deadline, The film will start production this summer or the 2026 release. Reportedly, the live-action will bring a fresh take on the story, celebrating Pacific Islander culture and traditions.
But what about the original voice of Moana? Auli‘i Cravalho will be one of the executive producers of the film, along with Scott Sheldon, and Charles Newirth. In addition, the film will be produced by Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Beau Flynn, with Lin-Manuel Miranda. It is being Co-founded by non-profit Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti. Similarly, the screenplay is being handled by Jared Bush, who wrote the original film, and Samoan writer Dana Ledoux Miller, who is best know for “Thai Cave Rescue” on Netflix. In short, this will be quite the endeavor for all of the talent involved.
What do you think of the Moana live action Cast? Let us know in the comments below
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