Disney Animation Studios' Moana, the sequel to which was released in December last year, is being made into a live-action film. It was revealed on November 18th that it will be released in the summer of 2026. A trailer and teaser poster have also been released.
Moana, "the girl chosen by the sea," embarks on an unimaginable adventure across the beautiful and mysterious ocean with the legendary demigod hero Maui to save her beloved family and the world. The role of Moana has been chosen by 18-year-old rising star Katherine Lagaia, who has a "miraculous singing voice," while Maui will be played by Dwayne Johnson, who played the same role in the animated version. The film is directed by Thomas Kail, who also directed the musical film "Hamilton" (released on Disney+ in July 2020).
The first film, "Moana," produced in 2016 (released in Japan in March 2017), grossed over $640 million worldwide (approximately 96 billion yen, according to Box Office Mojo, calculated at 150 yen to the dollar, same below) and was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. "Moana 2," released in December 2024, was a huge hit, grossing $1.05 billion (approximately 157.5 billion yen), surpassing the previous film.
The first trailer for the live-action film has been released, along with a teaser poster showing Moana, who has a special bond with the ocean.
The trailer features the beautiful, lush green Motunui Island and a scene where young Moana first interacts with the sea, accompanied by the famous song "How Far I'll Go," which expresses the inner voice of Moana, a girl who loves the sea and is chosen by it. In addition to the peaceful and prosperous people living on Motunui Island and the magnificent ocean that Moana dreams of, the trailer also shows Kakamora, the coconut pirate who stands in Moana's way, and Hei Hei, Moana's beloved chicken, revealing that familiar characters from the animation will also appear in the live-action version.
There's also a scene where a flash of light emanates from the "God's Fishhook," which the legendary hero Maui holds in his hand and can freely transform into any creature, and Maui's back is shown transforming into an insect or a hawk. The trailer builds expectations for the live-action version, with the catchy, powerful phrase "I am Moana" and Lagaia's stunning singing voice.
