Summary
After initially facing a release date delay, Dwayne Johnson has revealed the filming start window for the live-actionMoanaremake. The live-action adaptation of the hit 2016 Disney movie was first announced in early 2023, with Johnson not only returning to reprise his role as the demigod Maui, but would also be executive producing the project. Though initially slated for a June 2025 release,the live-actionMoanawas pushed back to July 2026 to leave room for the animated sequel’s release.
Johnsontook to his Instagram to share a special behind-the-scenes video for the live-actionMoanaremake.
The video, as seen above, features Johnson in the vocal booth recording the scratch vocals for Maui’s beloved song, “You’re Welcome”. The caption for the post further confirms that the live-action remake will officially begin filming this fall, with Johnson going on to praise the above day of production as a “cool day of work with this very talented cadre of artists & filmmakers.”
Moana Is Disney’s Riskiest & Most Promising Live-Action Remake Yet
Though Disney has found itself at the heart of division for its frequent live-action remakes of prior properties, the newMoanadoes prove to be one of its riskier efforts yet. Johnson was once a box office behemoth to be reckoned with, though recent installments have seen some underwhelming numbers, namelyBlack Adam. Similarly,Disney’s live-action remakeshave found themselves struggling to match the critical and commercial success of earlier efforts, with 2023’sThe Little Mermaidbeing deemed an underperformer. Check out how their recent live-action remakes and adaptations of their properties have fared on Rotten Tomatoes and the box office below:
76%
54%
75%
97%
62%
92%
Cheaper by the Dozen
35%
34%
N/A (streaming only)
28%
27%
N/A (streaming only); $150 Million budget
64%
11%
67%
94%
37%
84%
$117.5 Million
That being said, there are also a number of reasons why the live-actionMoanaremake proves to be one of Disney’s most promising to date. The movie will feature the feature directorial debut of Thomas Kail, who not only previously helmed the filmed production ofHamiltonfor Disney+, but has a storied background in theater, making him the perfect fit to tell the grandiose story of the original animated hit. Kail also recently garnered acclaim for his work on Hulu’sWe Were The Lucky Ones, showing his ability to tackle a globe-spanning story akin to that ofMoana’s.
9 Lessons Moana’s Remake Can Learn From Disney’s Live-Action Movie Mistakes
Disney announced that Moana is the next title to receive a live-action remake—but it’s important the studio learn from its past mistakes.
The other major factor why the live-actionMoanareboot could be one of Disney’s best yet is its ability to continue the studio’s expansion of offering better representation for a variety of cultures. While the first movie highlighted some elements of the Polynesian culture, both the upcoming animated sequel and live-action movie can further this effort with a cast full of authentic actors to inspire a new generation. Additionally, shouldMoana 2’s releaseprove to be just as big of a hit as its predecessor, it would reinvigorate audience interest in the property enough to bring them to the theater for the remake.
Moana
Cast
In Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Moana,” a young Polynesian girl embarks on a daring voyage to save her people, seeking the demigod Maui’s help to restore the heart of Te Fiti.
