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Tag: Moana

  • BTS Pics Reveal the First Look at the Rock as Maui in Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’

    BTS Pics Reveal the First Look at the Rock as Maui in Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’

    What can he say except “you’re welcome”? As production on Disney’s live-action reimagining of Moana prepares to wrap ahead of Thanksgiving, the first looks at Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Maui and Catherine Laga-aia as Moana have appeared online.

    Captured by Reel News Hawaii, the set photos show Johnson fully decked out as the Polynesian Demigod Maui alongside Laga-aia on the beach at Pokai Bay in Waianae, Hawaii. Despite principal photography being scheduled to end on November 25th, the new photos represent the first time the stars have been captured on set and provide a great look at Maui’s costume, which looks to be straight out of the animated classic.

    With Moana 2 out in theaters on November 27th, there’s a good chance that Disney makes the most of the leak and generates some official buzz about the live-action film which is due in theaters on July 10, 2026.

    Disney revealed plans for the live-action reimagining in April 2023 and, just a month later, hired Tony Award Winner Thomas Kail as the director.

  • Disney Sets 2026 Release Dates for Live-Action ‘Moana’ & ‘Toy Story 5’

    Disney Sets 2026 Release Dates for Live-Action ‘Moana’ & ‘Toy Story 5’

    Following the news that production on their live-action remake of Moana is expected to get underway later this year, Disney has carved out a new release date. Originally slated for a June 27, 2025 release, Moana has been moved back more than a year.

    Disney’s live-action Moana film will now open in theaters on July 10, 2026.

    Moana’s new date means it will hit theaters three weeks after Pixar’s Toy Story 5 which will bow on June 19, 2025.

    Updating…

  • Disney Sets Release Dates for ‘Moana 2,’ ‘Frozen 3,’ ‘Toy Story 5,’ and ‘Zootopia 2’

    Disney Sets Release Dates for ‘Moana 2,’ ‘Frozen 3,’ ‘Toy Story 5,’ and ‘Zootopia 2’

    During Disney’s Q1 2024 earnings call with Bob Iger, the studio unveiled a slew of new release dates. In a surprising move, the studio revealed that it has been hard at work on a sequel to Moana, with the sequel confirmed to hit theaters on November 27th, taking the place of the previously Untitled Disney Animation film set for that date. The studio also unveiled a short teaser for Moana 2, which can be viewed below.

    Along with news of the Moana sequel, Disney also confirmed Frozen 3 is coming in 2026. Coming in strong with more sequels, Disney also revealed that Zootopia 2, the long awaited sequel, will be released on November 26th, 2025. While Toy Story 5 is officially in the works for a 2026 release date.

    Updating…

  • Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’ Reimagining Finds Director in Tony Award Winner Thomas Kail

    Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’ Reimagining Finds Director in Tony Award Winner Thomas Kail

    On the heels of their live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaid garnering an A Cinemascore and opening to largely positive critical reviews, the studio has found a director for one of its next big remakes. According to THR, Thomas Kail, who directed 2020’s filmed stage production of Hamilton as well as Broadway and Off-Broadway of Hamilton and In the Heights, has signed on to helm the Dwayne Johnson-led live-action Moana.

    Earlier this year during a conference call with investors and Bob Iger, it was revealed that Johnson and his Seven Bucks Production Company were leading the charge in developing a live-action reimagining of Moana, one of Disney’s modern classics.

    I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.

    Dwayne Johnson on the Moana reimagining

    While Johnson shared that he would be reprising the role of the demigod Maui, the studio made it clear that there was no timetable for when production might begin as they were searching for a director. Now, it seems they’ve found their guy in the Tony Award-winning Kail. After winning the 2016 Tony for Best Direction of a Musical for his Broadway production of Hamilton, Kail found himself on familiar ground when he led the Disney Plus production of the show which streamed to rave reviews in the COVID-ravaged entertainment landscape of 2020. Kail is currently in the midst of a Broadway run on Sweeney Todd and is also tapped to direct a feature film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof.

    According to Disney, the live-action reimagining of Moana “will celebrate the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders as seen through the eyes of a young woman eager to pave her own path. Moana’s journey of self-discovery and reflection on the lives of her ancestors won hearts worldwide, as did her newfound friendship with an exiled demigod named Maui.”

    Source: THR

  • A Live-Action Reimagining of ‘Moana’ Starring Dwayne Johnson is in the Works at Disney

    A Live-Action Reimagining of ‘Moana’ Starring Dwayne Johnson is in the Works at Disney

    As it continues to reimagine its vast catalog of animated classics into live-action spectacles, Disney has teamed with Dwayne Johnson to add Moana to the list. As announced by Johnson via Twitter, Disney is teaming with Seven Bucks Productions and Flynn Picture Co. to bring the 2016 hit to life. News of the product was also given to Disney Shareholders today by Bob Iger during a webcast. Johnson also announced that he would reprise the role of Maui.

    According to a statement from Disney, “Like its animated predecessor, the film will celebrate the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders as seen through the eyes of a young woman eager to pave her own path. Moana’s journey of self-discovery and reflection on the lives of her ancestors won hearts worldwide, as did her newfound friendship with an exiled demigod named Maui.”

    I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.

    Dwayne Johnson on the Moana reimagining

    Auli’i Cravalho, who served as the voice of Moana in the 2016 animated film will serve as an executive producer on the film along with Scott Sheldon, Jared Bush, who wrote the screenplay for the original film, and Dana Ledoux Miller. “She has had such a profound impact on how we think of Disney princesses,” Cravalho said of the titular character. “Moana’s strength and perseverance are inspiring—to audiences around the world, to me and to everyone who helped bring her to life. I’m looking forward to sharing her story in a whole new way.“

    At this time, no timetable has been laid out for the film as it searches for a director.