Disney’s Moana, the sea-faring adventure involving a young girl with big dreams and a down-on-his-luck demigod, was one of the most beloved animated films of the last decade. We can still hear that theme song playing in the back of our heads to this day. Thanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Now, Moana joins the growing library of Disney movies that have received live action remakes, including The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland and Beauty and the Beast, with the live action adaptation hitting theaters on July 10, 2026.
Need to get up to speed on the characters of Moana and who plays them in the live action version? Here’s your complete guide to the Moana live action remake cast. “You’re welcooommmeee!”
Don’t forget: You can watch Moana, Moana 2 and other great Disney films right on DIRECTV! Get started today.
Full Cast & Characters of Disney’s ‘Moana’ Live Action Remake
Here’s an overview of the full cast of the live action Moana remake.
Catherine Laga’aia as Moana
Known for: The Lost Flowers of Alice Heart
Catherine Laga’aia steps into the lead role as Moana, the titular heroine and wayward daughter of the chief of her home island, Motunui. Moana has spent her entire life on Motunui, where the people are forbidden from venturing out into the vast ocean that surrounds their home, despite being descendants of a proud seafaring people.
Moana wants nothing more than to take to the seas and discover what lies beyond the horizon. Despite her father’s best efforts to temper her expectations, her grandmother is a bit more empathetic to her dreams. She convinces Moana to set out in a boat to find Maui and convince him to help her fix the damage his mistakes have caused to restore her people to their old ways and bring them prosperity.
When she meets the demigod himself, he’s a bit less impressive than she expected, and she has to work a bit of overtime to get him to help her achieve her mission.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Maui
Known for: The Fast & Furious franchise, Jumanji, Black Adam, The Scorpion King
Dwayne Johnson, “The Rock” himself, reprises his role as Maui. Johnson iconically provided the voice acting for Maui in the original animated film and performed his musical numbers, including the hit track “You’re Welcome.”
Maui is a demigod of the wind and sea with the ability to shapeshift into various animal forms with the help of his magical fishhook. Nothing drives him more than being admired and borderline worshiped by normal humans.
The version that Moana initially encounters, years after he basically destroys the world by stealing the Heart of Te Fiti, is a more vain, boastful and broken person than she expected, which positions him as less of an ally and more of an obstacle to her goals, at first: His first act upon meeting Moana is to try to steal her boat and leave her stranded on the deserted island he had been trapped on!
Maui (very) begrudgingly accompanies Moana on her journey, and the pair eventually settle their differences and form a bond that helps them right the wrongs Maui himself imposed on the world.
John Tui as Chief Tui of Motunui
Known for: Power Rangers S.P.D., Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Chief Tui is Moana’s father and the leader of her people. He knows Moana will be the next leader after his time, and he simultaneously tries to prepare her to assume that mantle and protect her by dissuading her from venturing out into the ocean, to no avail.
Despite his seemingly stern and overprotective nature, Tui always acts from a place of deep responsibility and doing what he thinks is best for his people in the moment, whether he can see that there’s a better path or not.
Rena Owen as Gramma Tala
Known for: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, The Bad Batch
Moana’s grandmother is a far different presence in Moana’s life than her overbearing father. She’s much more spiritually focused and connected to the land and sea, and she actively encourages Moana to act on her wildest dreams, having a deeper knowledge of the history of their people and the prosperity they once knew than other members of the tribe.
Tala’s death early in the film serves as the catalyst for Moana to finally act on her urges and hit the waves.
Frankie Adams as Sina
Known for: Mortal Engines, Wentworth, One Thousand Ropes
Sina is Moana’s mother who straddles the gap between her husband and their daughter. She sees both sides of the tension between them, understanding Tui’s protective instincts but empathizing with Moana’s desire to forge her own path through life.
Jermaine Clement as Tamatoa
Known for: Men in Black 3, Rio, Avatar: The Way of Water
Another original voice cast reprising his role, Jermaine Clement crawls back into the shell of Tamatoa, the villainous giant crab from the Realm of Monsters, which Moana and Maui must enter to reclaim the magical fishhook and restore Maui’s powers.
Turns out, the hook is lodged firmly in Tamatoa’s back, and he views it as a prized piece of his treasure horde, since he and Maui weren’t exactly friends back in the day. Moana and Maui’s battle with Tamatoa also featured one of the most recognizable songs from the original soundtrack.
Watch ‘Moana’ on DIRECTV
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Frequently asked questions
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