Disney unveils a new live-action Moana trailer with Maui front and center, as Dwayne Johnson returns to sing, dance and flex the demigod’s powers. Catherine Lagaʻaia takes over as Moana on a quest to save her island, with Thomas Kail directing and Jemaine Clement back as Tamatoa. The film opens in France on July 8, 2026.
Dwayne Johnson is back flexing myth and mischief as Maui, belting, shimmying, and tossing up fresh feats in a first look that hums with ocean spray. Opposite him, newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia steps into Vaiana’s sandals, charting a rescue mission for her island with a cheeky demigod in tow. Jemaine Clement’s glitter-loving Tamatoa scuttles back into frame, while Thomas Kail steers a cast that also includes John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen, with Auli’i Cravalho overseeing as executive producer. Disney’s voyage docks in French cinemas on July 8, 2026, buoyed by a Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller script and music from Mark Mancina under Lin-Manuel Miranda’s watch.
The much-awaited trailer is here
Disney has dropped the first look at its live-action take on Moana, and the trailer wastes no time reminding viewers who commands the ocean breeze. The demigod Maui swaggers back into frame, flipping his hook and the vibe, while the island heroine charts her course once more. The footage leans into scale, surf, and song, echoing the pop-cultural footprint of the 2016 animated hit.
A new cast with familiar voices
Front and center, newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia steps into Moana’s sandals with bright resolve and a steady gaze. Right beside her, Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, delivering the big-laugh bravado and a fresh tease of You’re Welcome that fans know by heart. This is the case for Jemaine Clement too, who reprises the shiny menace of Tamatoa, the giant crab with a jewel box for a lair.
Behind the scenes of the live-action journey
Director Thomas Kail brings his stage-to-screen precision to the voyage, a detail that shows in the trailer’s clean musical beats and bold staging (Hamilton fans will spot the rhythm). The script is adapted by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, with returning composer Mark Mancina rethreading melodies that caught ears a decade ago. In addition to that stewardship, Auli’i Cravalho joins as executive producer, a reassuring bridge between versions.
Maui in the spotlight, again
The preview frames Maui as the kinetic spark, which tracks with audience memory. He vaults from joke to jump, a foil and fuel for Moana’s resolve. Yet the camera often lingers on water, sky, and wayfinding tools, telegraphing a story that still centers a young navigator finding her map. Can a larger-than-life demigod share the horizon? The cut suggests yes.
When can US audiences expect it?
For American moviegoers, Disney is positioning the film for a summer 2026 theatrical rollout in the United States, with a specific date to be announced. The trailer is already live on the studio’s official channels, so momentum is building. As schedules firm up, expect the studio to detail release timing, premium formats, and soundtrack plans, followed by a likely Disney+ window in the US after theaters.