The ‘Moana’ live action release date arrives on Friday, 10 July 2026, landing on the tenth anniversary of the beloved animated original and bringing Dwayne Johnson back as the demigod Maui.
Disney’s live-action remake reworks the 2016 hit that became a streaming staple in millions of homes, according to Disney, and it hands the title role to newcomer Catherine Laga’aia in her feature film debut.
What the ‘Moana’ live action release date brings
The remake reaches cinemas on Friday, 10 July 2026, a date chosen to mark ten years since the animated Moana first sailed into theatres in 2016.
Dwayne Johnson reprises Maui, the boastful, shape-shifting demigod he voiced in the original, opposite Laga’aia’s wayfinding heroine.
Catherine Laga’aia takes the lead as Moana in her first film role, stepping into a part that turned the animated character into a global favourite. The casting of a young Pasifika actress in the title role has been a talking point since the project was first announced.
The 2016 Moana was a phenomenon, powering a soundtrack led by How Far I’ll Go and becoming one of Disney’s most-streamed animated titles of the era. That kind of affection raises the stakes for a live-action version, which has to satisfy fans who know every song by heart.
Who made the ‘Moana’ live action remake
Behind the camera sits Thomas Kail in his feature directorial debut, working from a screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller.
The producing team is stacked, led by Dwayne Johnson alongside Hiram and Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Miranda’s involvement is a signal of intent. His songs helped define the animated film’s identity, and his return on the producing side suggests Disney wants the remake to honour the music that made the original resonate far beyond its Pacific setting.
Filming kicked off in Atlanta, Georgia in July 2024 under the working title Canon before wrapping in Hawaii that November. The Hawaiian shoot leaned into the Pacific setting at the heart of the story, a world of open ocean, voyaging canoes and island tradition.
When ‘Moana’ reaches South African cinemas
With the global rollout building around the 10 July date, anticipation has climbed steadily among fans who grew up on the animated film and its soundtrack. A confirmed South African release date and platform could not be verified at the time of publishing.
What happens next
The countdown now runs to Friday, 10 July 2026, when audiences finally see whether the live-action Moana can match the animated original that made it a favourite.
With a decade of goodwill behind it, Disney will be hoping the remake sails as smoothly as its heroine.
