Disney Finds Its Live-Action ‘Moana’ In Catherine Laga‘aia
deadline.comDisney has cast Catherine Laga‘aia in the title role of its live-action Moana movie, which is set to be released in theaters on July 10, 2026.
Moana 2, the animated sequel, is opening in theaters the Wednesday before Thanksgiving this year. “I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” the 17-year-old Sydney, Australia, native said. “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.” Disney also announced that New Zealander John Tui will play Moana’s no-nonsense father, Chief Tui; Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams will play Moana’s playful and strong-willed mother, Sina; and Rena Owen, who hails from Bay of Islands, NZ, was cast as the revered Gramma Tala.
The join a cast that includes the previously announced Dwayne Johnson, who will reprise his role as demigod Maui from the original 2016 movie, which grossed $687.2 million at the global box office and won the Animated Feature Oscar.
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