Live-Action Moana Leaves The Animated Original In Its Wake With A Longer Runtime
Moana’s live-action voyage runs longer than the animated classic. An exhibitor listing flags a beefier runtime ahead of this summer’s release, promising more time with Moana and Maui under director Thomas Kail of Hamilton fame.
Disney just cannot resist circling back to its biggest hits, can it? This time it's Moana getting the live-action treatment, and if you thought the original was a breezy watch, brace yourself – they've padded it out.
Right, How Long Are We Talking?
One of the big questions going round was whether this remake would actually add anything to justify its existence (other than, well, money). AMC Theatres has let slip that the new Moana runs for a full 120 minutes. That clocks in at 13 minutes longer than the original 2016 animated version, which was 107 minutes. Old fans, new fans – everyone gets a bit more for their money, for better or worse.
Who's Stroking the Oar This Time?
The live-action adaptation is in the hands of Thomas Kail – that guy from Hamilton on Broadway – so you know Disney's after a bit of stage magic along with the expected spectacle.
- Catherine Laga'aia is Moana (yes, new face, not Auli'i Cravalho)
- Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui – if you ever wondered what The Rock would look like with giant tattoos and a magic hook, now's your chance
- John Tui is Chief Tui, Frankie Adams is Sina, and Rena Owen is Gramma Tala
- Jared Bush, who wrote the first film, is handling the script again
- Lin-Manuel Miranda's back writing songs, so expect a few earworms
Story? Don't Expect Too Many Surprises
They're sticking closely to the original plot: Moana, hand-picked by the Ocean itself, has to convince demigod Maui to help fix what's wrong with her island. Cue ocean vistas, family drama, and a fair amount of arguing over boats.
Behind the Scenes – Some Genuine Progress
This was actually shot in some pretty stunning locations, including Pokai Bay in Hawaii and the ever-busy Trilith Studios in Atlanta. The production seems to be making a proper effort with cultural representation too – there's been a real focus on casting actors of Pasifika descent, and they brought in cultural consultants for good measure. It's not just a box-ticking thing this time, by the sounds of it.
When Does The Boat Leave?
The live-action Moana is set to hit cinemas on 10 July 2026, so you can start prepping your sea shanties and shiny song covers now.
'In Disney's live-action adaptation of the beloved Oscar-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Laga'aia) answers the Ocean's call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.'