Another Disney princess is getting a live-action remake. Next up is Moana, and according to a trailer dropped Monday morning, it’ll follow the same storyline as the Oscar-nominated animated version released in 2016.
Moana, starring Catherine Lagaʻaia as the young wayfinder, will travel beyond the island of Motunui to answer the ocean’s call, along with her sidekick Maui. Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson is reprising his role as the demigod for the live-action version, after voicing the character in Moana and Moana 2.
We’re pretty pumped to see Johnson with curly hair, as well as the special effects like Maui transforming into a whale. We only get a quick glimpse of Heihei, Moana’s rooster, but he appears to be computer-generated. You can also catch sight of Tamatoa the crab and Te Kā in the 2-minute trailer.
Live-action versions of popular films seem to be a big part of Disney’s playbook. The live-action versions of Snow White, Lilo & Stitch and The Little Mermaid are just a few that are now streaming on Disney Plus (with varying levels of success), but the list goes on. And there doesn’t seem to be any signs of stopping with Moana.
The remake of Moana is directed by Thomas Kail, who directed broadway show Hamilton. It’s produced by Johnson, Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Lin-Manuel Miranda. It will be released in US theaters on July 10.
