Disney chooses 17-year-old Australian Catherine Laga'aia to be the lead actress in their upcoming live-action film 'Moana'.
Seventeen-year-old Catherine Laga‘aia is set to play the lead role in an upcoming movie titled "Moana." This project will start filming this summer and will center around "the islands, communities, and traditions of Pacific Islanders in a thrilling adventure," according to Disney's announcement.
Disney revealed that Laga‘aia will embark on an adventurous journey to Motunui and beyond, as the teen who takes on a bold mission to save her people in this upcoming live-action version of "Moana."
Her acting experience is limited, as her only listed credit on IMDb is three episodes of the TV show "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart." However, show business isn't new to her – her father, Jay Laga‘aia, is a New Zealand-born actor who appeared in two "Star Wars" movies.
Disney's announcement revealed that Laga‘aia will be working alongside Dwayne Johnson, who provided the voice for Maui in the 2016 animated feature and is also one of the movie's producers. The movie has a star-studded lineup, with "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote a significant portion of the original soundtrack, serving as a producer as well.
In the statement accompanying the announcement, Laga‘aia, a resident of Sydney, expressed her excitement, saying, "I'm really excited to embody this character because Moana is one of my favorites. My grandfather hails from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i, and my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I'm honored to have the chance to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island cultures and to represent young girls who resemble me."
Her father, Jay Laga‘aia, also shared the news on social media, writing on Instagram: "My family and I are excited to share this news with the world. My daughter Katie will be taking on the role of Moana in the live-action Disney movie alongside Dwayne Johnson and Lin Manuel Miranda."
The film, slated for release in July 2026, also features New Zealand actor John Tui as Moana's father, Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams as her mother, and Rena Owen as the grandmother, Gramma Tala.
Thomas Kail, known for directing "Hamilton" on Broadway and Disney+, is helming the project.
Last year, Johnson revealed the news of a live-action "Moana" adaptation on Instagram, declaring, "this story is my culture, and this story is a symbol of our people's grace, power, and warrior strength."
The original "Moana" film was a huge hit at the box office, raking in over $680 million and becoming the most-streamed movie of 2023, according to Nielsen data. The sequel, "Moana 2," is expected to release in November.
Auli‘i Cravalho played the title role in the original film, with Rachel House, Nicole Scherzinger, and Temuera Morrison also appearing in the animated version.
Disney has had success transforming many of their animated classics into live-action films, starting with "Beauty and the Beast" in 2017, before following with "Aladdin" and "The Lion King" in 2019 and "The Little Mermaid" in 2022.
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The live-action film "Moana" promises an entertaining journey, with Catherine Laga'aia taking on the lead role and Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui.
The upcoming live-action "Moana" movie, starring Catherine Laga'aia, is set to showcase the traditions and communities of Pacific Islanders, offering a thrilling entertainment experience.
