Disney has officially dropped a new trailer for its live-action Moana, bringing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson back into one of the most recognizable roles of his acting career — but this time, fans will see Maui brought to life in full live-action form.
Johnson originally voiced Maui in the animated Moana films, delivering one of the standout performances of his film career. After voicing the demigod in both the original Moana and Moana 2, he’s now stepping into the role physically as Disney reimagines the beloved story for the big screen.
The live-action adaptation is scheduled to hit theaters on July 10, 2026, positioning it as one of Disney’s biggest summer releases. Johnson isn’t just starring in the film either — he’s also serving as an executive producer alongside several members of his Seven Bucks Productions team.
Disney released an official description of the film, giving fans a clearer look at what to expect from the reimagined story and its updated cast.
“In ‘Moana,’ Disney’s live action reimagining of the beloved Oscar-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.”
The film brings major creative talent behind the camera as well. Emmy and Tony Award winner Thomas Kail — known for directing Hamilton — is helming the project. Johnson is producing alongside Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, while original Moana voice star Auliʻi Cravalho returns in an executive producer role.
Music remains a central part of the franchise’s identity, with original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina, while Mancina also returns to compose the film’s score. Disney also confirmed that audiences will experience the film exclusively in theaters when it arrives this summer.
“Audiences can experience the brilliant cinematic sights, sounds and songs of ‘Moana’ exclusively in theaters on July 10, 2026.”
Johnson’s return as Maui comes at a strong point in his acting career. He earned widespread praise for his dramatic performance in The Smashing Machine, where he portrayed MMA legend Mark Kerr. That role earned Johnson a Golden Globe nomination and sparked serious awards conversation, even though he ultimately did not receive an Oscar nomination.
Beyond Moana, Johnson’s schedule remains packed with major projects. He is currently attached to future films from directors Martin Scorsese and Benny Safdie, while also set to appear in the third and final installment of the rebooted Jumanji franchise.
With one of Disney’s most popular animated stories now heading into live-action territory — and Johnson stepping back into a role that helped define his acting résumé — the new trailer signals a major push toward what could become one of the studio’s biggest releases of 2026.
Are you excited to see The Rock return as Maui in live-action form, or do you think the original animated version will always be the better version of Moana? Let us know your thoughts and drop your feedback below.