Moana live-action has been on the deck of the cards for Disney for quite a while now. The original animated movie starring Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui was a huge hit. While the sequel of the animation is set to hit the theaters this year, Disney has been looking for the perfect Moana for the live-action film and now the studio has found Catherine Laga’aia.
Catherine Laga’aia Will Appear In And As Disney’s Live Action Moana
Catherine Laga’aia is a 17-year-old Australian actor whose father, Jay Laga’aia played Captain Typho in the Star Wars prequel movies.
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said Laga‘aia in a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter). “My grandfather comes from Fa’aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me,” she added.
Thomas Kail, who has a prominent theater credit to his name is set to direct the Dwayne Johnson-starrer movie. “I am thrilled to have met Catherine, Rena, Frankie, and John through this casting process,” Kail said of the live-action Moana. “I am humbled by this opportunity, and I cannot wait to all be on set together. And there’s no better pair to be in a canoe with than Catherine and Dwayne—actually, trio: Heihei is ready, too.”
The casting of the movie looks promising and Laga’aia’s cinematic appearance in the big Disney movie certainly sparks curiosity among fans.
Fans Hailed Casting Of Catherine Laga’aia In Moana Live-Action
A still from Moana 2016. Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The popularity of the original Moana brought the subsequent projects to priority. While the movie was a box-office hit, it has also been on the top streaming chart on Disney for several years. Now, with the highly anticipated live-action movie, fans applaud the casting of Catherine Laga’aia.
Peak casting 🙌🏾🙌🏾
— NFL Youngboy (@nflyb15) June 12, 2024
Going by looks, she definitely looks the part pic.twitter.com/zhevlhV8lH
— Warling (@WarlingHD) June 12, 2024
She looks almost exactly like her
— Ri§en (@Risen_SzN) June 12, 2024
That’s actually a good casting choice
— Opposite_Hedgehog_75 (@75Opposite) June 12, 2024
Casting Director cooked
— BitSaga (@bitsaga128) June 12, 2024
Catherine Laga’aia looks perfect as the live-action Moana of Motunui pic.twitter.com/b1sA3YPH3u
— Hector Navarro (@imhectornavarro) June 12, 2024
She's beautiful!! Good luck to her in the role. And everyone else can be against it if they want to, but I love the live action versions so I'm excited for this. 😊💕
— Siobhan 🇬🇬 (@slinehan1) June 12, 2024
She looks like Moana. I'm looking forward to this live action.
— Pablo Sepulveda-Guerrero (@pxsepulv) June 12, 2024
The original Moana claimed a stunning $687.2 million at the box office while standing on an astonishing 95% Rotten Tomatoes score. Moana 2 written and directed by David Derrick Jr., with the same primary cast, will hit the theaters on November 27, 2024.
Disney scheduled Moana live-action for July 10, 2026 release.
