Disney has released the first glimpse of its live-action Moana and the short teaser immediately highlights the scale and emotion audiences can expect. Rather than reinventing the beloved world of Motunui the studio appears to be carefully rebuilding it with the same glowing horizons sweeping oceans and heartfelt tone that defined the original animated classic. The teaser opens with a serene sweep of the shoreline evoking a sense of familiarity while presenting a more tangible and grounded visual experience.
At the centre of the teaser is Catherine Laga’aia making her debut as Moana. The clip begins with her softly delivering lines from the iconic song How Far I’ll Go signalling a respectful return to the character’s emotional core. Dwayne Johnson also makes a brief yet powerful appearance as Maui offering only a silhouette but enough to generate excitement around his return to the role.
Several familiar elements from the animated film surface throughout the teaser. Hei-Hei shuffles into view for a blink-and-miss moment while faint glimpses of Maui’s towering figure hint at the adventure waiting ahead. The new cast includes John Tui as Chief Tui Frankie Adams as Sina and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. Directed by Thomas Kail known for his work on Hamilton the live-action adaptation aims to blend theatrical storytelling with Polynesian myth and vivid island landscapes. Auli‘i Cravalho the original voice of Moana joins the project as executive producer. Disney has confirmed that the film will release in India on July 10 2026.