“Moana” in live-action: See all the animated characters coming to life in new movie
“Moana” in live-action: See all the animated characters coming to life in new movie
Nick RomanoMon, March 23, 2026 at 10:20 PM UTC
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Catherine Laga'aia as live-action 'Moana'Credit: Courtesy of Disney
Moana is back on the big screen, though not quite as you remembered.
It's only been 10 years since the 2016 animated original became a global success and modern classic, but now Disney's new interpretation of the tale brings some of your favorite characters to life in both live-action and photo-realistic animation.
"How do you honor this? How do you say 'we love it too' and make it something that can be a companion and not try to be the same thing, but also trust what works?" director Thomas Kail told Entertainment Weekly. "The opportunity to have flesh and blood and have human beings tell the story and sing these songs and be in this world, there's something so fundamentally different about that experience of watching and feeling that."
See all the live-action characters in the new film side by side with the animated originals below.
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01 of 10
Moana
Catherina Laga'aia as live-action MoanaCredit: Disney (2)
Catherine Lagaʻaia succeeds Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana in the live-action retelling. Daughter of Chief Tui on the island of Motunui, the young seafaring heroine is chosen by the ocean to find demigod Maui and return the stolen heart of the nature goddess Te Fiti before the world is consumed in fire and ash.
"The way that Catherine sings 'How Far I'll Go' is inherently different than the way Auliʻi did," Kail teased to EW of the music to come. "I think that's what also is a reason [for the movie] to be. How would you do this? How would you experience that?"
02 of 10
Maui
Dwayne Johnson as live-action Maui in 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
Maui is a hero with many titles: shapeshifter, demigod of the wind and sea, hero of men and women. And now he'll remind us again in live-action.
Dwayne Johnson becomes the first Disney actor to play the same role in both animated and live-action versions of a character. The actor spoke with EW about transforming himself into Maui for the live-action Moana, describing "the 40 pounds of prosthetics and hair and body."
"It was grueling because of the suit and how hot it was," he said. "Wait till you see pictures. In between takes, there's literally five, six people, all [with] fans, opening me up, pulling my hair back."
03 of 10
Chief Tui
John Tui as live-action Chief Tui in 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
John Tui plays Chief Tui, Moana's no-nonsense father and leader of the people of Motunui. He's someone who does not want his daughter sailing out towards the dangers beyond the reef.
Temuera Morrison (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett) voiced the character in the two animated movies.
04 of 10
Grandma Tala
Rena Owen as live-action Grandma Tala in 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
Rena Owen now portrays Moana's grandmother, Tala, a role previously voiced by Rachel House in the animated movies.
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Grandma Tala is a free spirit and revered matriarch of her family with a strong connection to both nature and her peoples' history.
05 of 10
Ocean
The ocean in 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
The spirit of the ocean, visualized as a cresting wave, pops in and out to guide Moana on her odyssey — and reprimand Maui. It is the ocean who chose the girl as a toddler to become the savior of her people.
06 of 10
Te Kā
Te Kā in live-action and animated 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
Te Kā is the raging volcanic entity that threatens to cover the world in ash. Moana and Maui must duck and dodge this adversary if they're to restore the heart of Te Fiti.
07 of 10
Pua
Pua in live-action and animated 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
Pua is Moana's puppy-like pet pig. Though the spotted animal companion doesn't join Moana on her journey, he remains one of her best friends.
08 of 10
Hei Hei the Rooster
Hei Hei the Rooster in live-action and animated 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
Hei Hei is always getting into trouble. It's a surprise he hasn't been eaten by something or other. The clumsy, absentminded bird from Motunui haphazardly finds his way onto Moana's boat.
09 of 10
Tamatoa
Tamatoa in live-action and animated 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
Tamatoa is a gargantuan coconut crab that dwells in the realm of monsters known as Lalotai. He's a being who covets shiny things.
Tamatoa is voiced by Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows) in the animated original, though his voice casting in the live-action version remains undisclosed.
10 of 10
Kakamora
Kakamora in live-action and animated 'Moana'Credit: Disney (2)
The Kakamora are a group of coconut-like pirates who cause all sorts of havoc from their giant ship on the ocean. It's not a good time when Moana comes across their vessel.
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Live-action Moana will open in theaters July 10.
This article will be as Disney reveals more characters.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
