Disney has just announced the name of the actress who will play Vaiana in the film in live action and surprise, it is not Auli’i Cravalho who lends her voice to the Disney heroine in the original version.
In April 2023, Dwayne Johnson announced a live-action film adapted from the animated film by John Musker and Ron Clements, Moana. The one who lends his voice to the demigod Maui had announced the project in a video where he appears with two of his daughters from the island of O’ahu in Hawaii.
The actor added onI have the honor to announce that we are bringing the magnificent story of Moana to the big screen! Maui changed my life (I miss you Grandpa) and I’m honored to partner with Disney to tell our story through music and dance, which are at the heart of who we are as Polynesian people.” .
Dwayne Jonson announced a little later that the live film directed by Thomas Kail (director of the play Hamilton on Broadway) would be his next project. However, Disney quickly calmed The Rock’s enthusiasm by announcing an animated sequel to Moana scheduled for release in theaters on November 27, 2024.
Bestimage Dwayne Johnson & Auli’i Cravalho at Moana’s AVP (2016)
Change of actress
The live version was therefore postponed until July 8, 2026. If until now we thought that the actress Auli’i Cravalho – who lends her voice to the Disney heroine and takes up the vocal role in the sequel – was going to play the young head of the village in the live version, the studio finally chose another actress.
It is therefore Catherine Laga’aia – who already appeared in the casting of the series Les Fleurs Sauvages – who will lend her features to Vaiana in the feature film in live action.
Aged 23, Auli’i Cravalho will nevertheless co-produce the film and coach the young 17-year-old actress. The choice to replace the original actress was not explained by Disney but it is possible that the studio preferred to take a teenage actress to better fit the character.
In the announcement press release, Catherine Laga’aiaoriginally from Sydney, Australia, says: “I’m very excited to play this character because Moana is one of my favorite heroines. My grandfather is from Fa’aala, Palauli, in Savai’i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I am honored to have the opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”
The young girl is no stranger to the world of cinema since her father is the actor and singer Jay Laga’aia, who notably played Captain Typho in Star Wars: Episode II and III.
Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia will be joined by John Tui, who will play Vaiana’s father, Frankie Adams, in the role of her mother, and Rena Owen who will play Tala, the heroine’s grandmother. .
Vaiana live will be released in theaters on July 8, 2026 while the animated sequel Vaiana 2 will be visible in theaters from November 27.