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A teaser for the live-action Moana<\/em><\/a> just dropped, introducing fans of the 2016 animated film to a brand-new version of the tale. That includes a new actress, Catherine Laga’aia, who is playing the titular role.<\/p>\n Moana<\/em> tells the story of an adventure-seeking Polynesian girl who sets sail across the ocean to save her island by restoring the heart of a powerful goddess. The teaser shows Laga\u2019aia as Moana, singing \u201cHow Far I\u2019ll Go,\u201d a song originally performed by the animated Moana<\/em>\u2019s voice actress Auli\u02bbi Cravalho.<\/p>\n Laga’aia, an 18-year-old actress from Sydney, Australia, is making her film debut with the live-action movie, Disney announced in June 2024<\/a>. In a statement to the press, Laga\u2019aia shared why the role was so special to her, calling Moana <\/em>one of her favorites.<\/p>\n \u201cMy grandfather comes from Fa\u2018aala, Palauli, in Savai\u2018i,\u201d she said, referring to her roots in Samoa. \u201cAnd my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of \u2018Upolu in Samoa. I\u2019m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.\u201d<\/p>\n Dwayne Johnson, who is reprising his role as the demigod Maui in the live-action film and also producing the project, is of Samoan heritage and said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter<\/a> how important it was for him to represent his people onscreen.<\/p>\n Prior to scoring the role of Moana when she was just 17, Laga’aia appeared in three episodes of the Prime Video series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart<\/em> as \u201cYoung Candy.\u201d Her father, Jay Laga\u2018aia, is also in the entertainment industry, appearing in Star Wars: Episode II \u2014 Attack of the Clones<\/em> and Episode III \u2014 Revenge of the Sith <\/em>as Captain Typho, as well as shows like The Wiggles<\/em> and Home and Away<\/em>. He also created and starred in the preschool series Jay\u2019s Jungle<\/em>, which ran from 2015 to 2018.<\/p>\n Cravalho, who is executive producing the live-action film and returned for 2024\u2019s Moana 2<\/em>, said in a May 2023 Instagram video<\/a> why she would not be reprising the role of Moana.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was cast as Moana at 14, it wonderfully changed my life and started my career,\u201d she said. \u201cI believe it is absolutely vital that the casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell, so as an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana\u2019s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength.\u201d<\/p>\n The live-action Moana <\/em>hits theaters July 10, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n