Live-action Moana trailer debuts — it hardly looks live-action

Disney has released the first trailer for its live-action reimagining of Moana, and the teaser makes clear what many expected: the film often reads like a highly polished animated picture rather than conventional live-action. The footage favors sweeping, stylized set pieces and cinematic effects that emphasize spectacle.

The trailer dazzles with grand vistas, reinterpreted musical moments, and familiar faces — but much of the magic stems from visual effects. Sequences show characters defying gravity, water moving with uncanny behavior, and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) shifting into insect and bird forms. In the same vein as Disney’s recent remakes — The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and The Jungle Book — the production’s heavy reliance on digital artistry blurs the distinction between “live-action” and animation.

“Moana answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.”

— Disney synopsis

The trailer also teases a fresh interpretation of “How Far I’ll Go,” performed here by Catherine Laga’aia, who takes on the role of Moana after Auliʻi Cravalho’s original portrayal in the prior films. Meanwhile, Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui, a casting choice that echoes the character’s established look and persona.

For a playful, if brief, moment the clip culminates with Hei Hei — Moana’s hapless chicken companion — breaking the fourth wall with a comically loud squawk, a reminder that the film intends to preserve some of the original’s lighthearted spirit.

Release date: July 10, 2026

Source: Polygon