🎬 Moana (2026) brings Disney’s Polynesian tale into live-action, set to sail into theaters on July 10, 2026, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui from the 2016 animated hit. Directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton), this remake follows Moana Waialiki (newcomer Catherine Laga‘aia), a spirited wayfinder tasked with lifting a curse on her island by returning Te Fiti’s heart. The film could open with a vibrant Motunui shore, Moana’s call to the sea clashing with Chief Tui’s (Temuera Morrison) caution, setting her on a voyage with Maui’s boisterous aid after Moana 2’s animated exploits.

The narrative might mirror the original’s odyssey—Moana battling coconut pirates and facing the lava demon Te Kā—while weaving in Moana 2’s threads, like her sister Simea or new crewmates. A mid-film storm could test her resolve, with Maui’s shape-shifting antics (practical effects teased in Johnson’s December 2024 Instagram) stealing the show. The climax could stage a fiery confrontation at Te Fiti’s reef, though risks loom of retreading old waves without fresh stakes—Moana 2’s November 2024 reception (projected $70-80 million opening, per Deadline) may nudge tweaks.

Thematically, it could deepen Moana’s journey of identity and duty, her Polynesian roots grounding a universal call to courage. Johnson’s Maui, a demigod wrestling with ego, might echo his Fast charisma, while Laga‘aia’s debut (cast June 2024, Variety) brings raw defiance. X posts hype the cultural authenticity—consultants from Moana 2 return—but some fans dread a Lion King 2019-style photocopy, especially with Disney’s live-action track record. Kail’s stage flair could lift it beyond rote remake.

Visually, expect a lush Pacific palette—Hawaiian shoots (confirmed via Johnson’s January 2025 X post) capturing turquoise seas and volcanic cliffs with Avatar-like immersion. Cinematographer Dion Beebe might blend practical canoes and CGI Kakamora, with Maui’s tattoos animated in real-time (a nod to Johnson’s Samoan ink). Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs—“How Far I’ll Go,” reimagined—could soar with Opetaia Foa‘i’s Polynesian beats, though overpolished effects might dull the original’s hand-drawn charm.

Casting shines with Laga‘aia, a 17-year-old Samoan-Australian, paired with Johnson’s larger-than-life Maui—his Seven Bucks Productions co-producing (per Deadline). Morrison’s Tui and Rachel House’s Gramma Tala return, with John Tui as a stern villager adding heft. Rumors of Auliʻi Cravalho cameoing (she’s exec producing, not starring, per June 2024 Variety) fuel buzz, though a stacked ensemble risks sidelining Moana’s arc. Chemistry between Laga‘aia and Johnson will be key—her grit, his growl.

Ultimately, Moana (2026) aims to ride Moana 2’s wave—projected at $500 million-plus by mid-2025—toward a $700 million haul, dwarfing 2016’s $687 million. Filming began January 2025 in Oahu (Johnson’s X), wrapping late 2025 for its summer slot, with Disney banking on Johnson’s draw and Polynesian pride. It could be a soulful triumph if Kail balances heart and spectacle, or a soggy retread if it leans too hard on nostalgia. X splits on “needed or not,” but it’s a paddle worth watching.