The trailer is here. Disney has finally dropped the first official teaser for its live-action Moana, and the internet is already on fire.
Set to the epic, swelling score and the familiar lines of “How Far I’ll Go,” the brief, one-minute teaser gives us our first real glimpse of Motunui brought to life, our favorite characters in the flesh, and a torrent of new questions.
This is the big one. But does it live up to the 2016 animated masterpiece? We’re breaking down every frame and the one big reason fans are already fiercely divided.
1. Meet the New Moana: Catherine Laga’aia
The single biggest reveal is our new Moana, played by 17-year-old Australian newcomer Catherine Laga’aia. With original voice actress Auli’i Cravalho stepping back (but staying on as an executive producer), the torch has been passed.
Laga’aia, who has Samoan heritage, looks perfect in the role. The trailer shows her on the boat, navigating the seas, and connecting with the ocean, which is (thankfully) still a character in its own right. We even hear her sing, and she captures the spirit of the character beautifully. This casting is a huge win.
2. The Breakdown: What We Saw
The teaser is short, but it’s packed with iconic, shot-for-shot recreations:
- Motunui: The island looks stunning and vibrant.
- The Ocean: We see the classic scene of the ocean “parting” for a young Moana.
- The Kakamora: The tiny, menacing coconut pirates are back and look just as threatening in live-action.
- Hei-Hei: The world’s most clueless chicken is present, which is a huge relief.
- The Cast: We get flashes of Moana’s family, including John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala.
3. The Mystery: What We Didn’t See
There’s one demigod-sized omission: Where is Maui?
We see Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson… kind of. We see his back. We see his magical fishhook. We see him shapeshift into a hawk. But we never see his face.
This is 100% a deliberate marketing move. Disney is holding back the big reveal of The Rock in full Maui costume and tattoos. It’s a classic “leave them wanting more” tactic, and it’s already got everyone talking.
4. The Great Divide: “Soulless” or “Stunning”?
Here is the heart of the “SEO wave” we’re riding. The fan reaction is split right down the middle.
- On one side, fans are calling it “visually stunning” and a “beautiful, faithful” recreation.
- On the other side, a loud portion of the audience is calling it “artificial,” “flat,” and “soulless.”
The most common criticism is that it looks too much like a clean CGI world, with some critics on social media saying the animated film “looks more realistic” than the live-action one. Many are also asking the big question: “Was this necessary?” The original film is less than a decade old.
This debate—between it being a beautiful tribute and an “unnecessary AI-looking” remake—is exactly what will dominate the conversation.
By positioning ourselves at the center of this debate, we capture all of it. The film is set to sail into theaters on July 10, 2026.
