Live-Action ‘Moana’ Casts Catherine Laga‘aia as its Lead

The 17-year-old Australian actor will take on the role voiced by Auli’i Cravalho in the live-action version of the 2016 animated hit alongside Dwayne Johnson.

Catherine Laga'aia. Photo by Alexei Hay. © 2024 Alexei Hay. All Rights Reserved.

Preview:

Catherine Laga‘aia is playing the title character in the live-action ‘Moana’.
Dwayne Johnson is reprising his role as Maui.
‘Hamilton’ director Thomas Kail is behind the camera.

Moana’.

But while that announcement included word that Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated version, is instead just a producer on this one.

Moana

"The ocean is calling."

PG1 hr 47 min Nov 23rd, 2016

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Moana Online

What’s the story of Moana?

Walt Disney Studios Animation's 'Moana.'

The original movie follows the young woman rebelling against the insular nature of her island community and embracing her destiny as an adventurer, helping to sort out a huge problem in the process.

Along the way, she meets Maui, the mischievous, shape-shifting demi-god who is initially a thorn in her side but ends up a trusted companion.

Who is appearing in the ‘Moana’ live-action movie?

Frankie Adams.

Here’s what Catherine Laga‘aia had to say about getting the role:

“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites. My grandfather comes 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 an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”

She’ll be ed in the cast by Auckland, New Zealander Rena Owen, who hails from Bay of Islands, NZ, was cast as the revered Gramma Tala.

Who is making the live-action ‘Moana’?

John Tui.

Up Here’), is behind the camera for the new ‘Moana’.

This is his statement on tackling the new movie:

“I am thrilled to have met Catherine, Rena, Frankie and John through this casting process. I am humbled by this opportunity, and I cannot wait to all be on set together. And there’s no better pair to be in a canoe with than Catherine and Dwayne — actually, trio: Heihei is ready, too.”

In case that last name has you saying “whowho?”, Heihei is Moana’s extremely dim chicken friend from the animated pic.

Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also wrote songs for the animated movie) is a producer on this one.