The lead role of Moana in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake is being played by Catherine Laga‘aia, a young actress of Samoan heritage from Sydney, Australia. Dwayne Johnson is returning as the demigod Maui in the same film.

Quick Scoop

  • Moana (live action): Catherine Laga‘aia has been officially announced by Disney as the new Moana, stepping into the role originally voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho in the 2016 animated movie.
  • Maui: Dwayne Johnson is set to reprise his fan-favorite role as Maui, also serving as a producer on the project.
  • Original Moana’s involvement: Auliʻi Cravalho is not playing Moana this time but is attached as an executive producer, helping shepherd the new adaptation and its casting.

Extra casting context

  • Disney confirmed the casting in 2024 as part of broader updates on the live-action adaptation, putting to rest earlier online speculation and fan-casting rumors.
  • Some forum discussions had floated other names, including Zendaya, but these were debunked and never reflected in Disney’s official announcements.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.