🚨 WAIT… Is this REAL LIFE or are we still dreaming?! 😱
Disney just dropped the FIRST FULL TRAILER for the live-action MOANA… and I literally got CHILLS when she started singing “How Far I’ll Go”…
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is back as that cocky, tattooed demigod Maui (and yes, he’s even MORE jacked), but the new Moana… oh my god. Catherine Lagaʻaia is about to steal every single heart on the planet.
The ocean looks ALIVE. The colors are insane. And that final shot… I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying.
But here’s the thing nobody is ready for… 👀 Something in this trailer is going to break the internet in about 5 seconds.
You HAVE to see it before everyone starts screaming about it. Drop everything and watch right now →
Make way, make way! Disney has finally unleashed the first official teaser trailer for its hotly anticipated live-action remake of Moana, and the internet is already on fire. The minute-long clip, which dropped Monday, gives fans their very first look at 18-year-old newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia stepping into the iconic role originated by Auliʻi Cravalho — and let’s just say the Samoan-Australian actress is already being hailed as the perfect choice.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, of course, reprises his fan-favorite role as the larger-than-life demigod Maui, complete with the flowing hair, massive hook, and those glowing tattoos that shift when he shapeshifts. In the trailer, we see him transform from a tiny beetle into a giant hawk before diving dramatically into the ocean — a sequence that looks straight out of a billion-dollar blockbuster.
But the real star of the show? The ocean itself. Disney’s visual-effects wizards have somehow made the water look more alive and magical than ever, curling and swirling around Moana like it has a mind of its own. And when Lagaʻaia belts out the opening lines of “How Far I’ll Go” (reworked here as “I Am Moana”), the goosebumps are instant.
The teaser opens on the breathtaking island of Motunui at sunrise, with sweeping shots of lush green cliffs dropping into crystal-clear lagoons. We see the villagers going about their daily lives, the adorable (and slightly terrifying) Kakamora coconut pirates lurking in the distance, and a quick glimpse of Gramma Tala’s majestic manta-ray spirit gliding through the waves.
Then comes the moment everyone has been waiting for: Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana, standing on the shore, hair whipping in the wind, staring out at the horizon as the ocean literally reaches out to her. The camera zooms in on her face as she grabs the sail of her canoe and sings those unforgettable lyrics. Cue millions of people hitting replay.
Directed by Tony-winner Thomas Kail (Hamilton), the live-action Moana is set to hit theaters July 10, 2026 — almost exactly ten years after the original animated film sailed into cinemas and grossed nearly $650 million worldwide (over $870 million in today’s dollars).
Johnson, who also produces alongside his ex-wife Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Beau Flynn, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, first broke the news of the remake back in 2023 while standing on a beach in Hawaii with his own daughters. “This story is my culture,” the Samoan-American superstar said at the time. “It’s about celebrating the islands and the incredible spirit of the Pacific.”
Catherine Lagaʻaia, who hails from Sydney and has Samoan heritage on both sides of her family, was announced as the new Moana in June 2024. “I’m truly honored to represent young girls who look like me,” the teenager said in a statement. “Moana is one of my absolute favorites, and I can’t believe I get to bring her to life.”
Rounding out the cast are New Zealand heavyweights John Tui (Young Rock) as Chief Tui, Moana’s overprotective father; Frankie Adams (The Expanse) as Sina, her supportive mother; and veteran actress Rena Owen as the wise and mystical Gramma Tala.
Original Moana voice star Auliʻi Cravalho, now 24, gracefully stepped aside from the title role but signed on as executive producer. “When I was 14, Moana changed my life,” Cravalho said. “Now it’s time for a new young woman to take the helm.”
Filming wrapped late last year after shooting in Hawaii and Atlanta, with heavy emphasis on practical locations mixed with cutting-edge CGI. Sources say Disney poured an enormous budget into making the ocean sequences feel revolutionary — think Avatar: The Way of Water levels of immersion, but with Disney magic sprinkled on top.
Early reactions to the trailer have been intense. Within hours of dropping, the YouTube video racked up tens of millions of views, with comments flooding in like: “Catherine’s voice just healed something in me,” “The Rock shapeshifting in real life is sending me,” and “Why am I emotional over a teaser?!”
Of course, not everyone is sold. Some die-hard fans are grumbling that the original 2016 film — still fresh in everyone’s memory — doesn’t need a remake so soon. “We literally just got Moana 2 last year,” one viral tweet read. “Let the animated one breathe!” Others pointed out that, like The Lion King and The Little Mermaid before it, this “live-action” remake leans extremely hard on CGI, making it look more like hyper-realistic animation than traditional live-action.
Still, box-office analysts are already predicting a monster opening. Disney’s live-action remakes have been a mixed bag lately — Lilo & Stitch crushed it earlier this year, while Snow White underperformed — but Moana has built-in nostalgia, a beloved soundtrack, and The Rock’s star power. Add in the cultural significance and a summer 2026 release date with little direct competition, and you’ve got the recipe for another billion-dollar splash.
One thing is clear: Catherine Lagaʻaia is about to become a household name overnight. The young actress, who beat out thousands of hopefuls in a global search, has the vocals, the presence, and the authentic Polynesian representation that fans have been begging Disney for.
As the trailer ends with Moana sailing straight toward the camera, the screen fades to the release date: July 10, 2026. And somewhere out there, the ocean is definitely calling.
Whether you’re Team “We didn’t need this” or Team “Shut up and take my money,” one thing is undeniable — Disney just reminded everyone why Moana became a global phenomenon in the first place. And with Catherine Lagaʻaia at the helm, this voyage might just go even farther than the original.
Get ready to set sail again. The wayfinder is back — and this time, she’s real.