Disney’s live-action Moana is heading to Disney+ sooner than you might think
Disney has set the Disney+ debut for the live-action Moana remake. Here’s when it starts streaming and who’s in the cast.
Disney has locked in the next stop for its live-action "Moana." The remake will begin streaming on Disney+ on Oct. 21, giving Disney+ subscribers a date to watch Catherine Laga’aia’s take on Moana of Motunui at home.
The key update is simple: Disney’s live-action "Moana" starts streaming on Disney+ on Oct. 21.
The film stars Catherine Laga’aia in her film debut as Moana. The story follows her voyage to restore the heart of Te Fiti and help her village. Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui, the demigod who joins Moana on her ocean journey.
That means Disney+ viewers will soon be able to watch a new version of one of Disney’s biggest modern animated adventures, this time led by a new Moana and a returning Maui. For fans tracking Disney’s live-action slate, the release date is the main change, and it takes effect when the movie arrives on the service Oct. 21.
Who returns in the remake
The new film also brings in several familiar characters and a broader supporting cast. Rena Owen plays Gramma Tala, John Tui plays Chief Tui, Frankie Adams plays Sina and Jemaine Clement plays Tamatoa, the shiny king crab.
Moana’s animal companions Pua and Heihei are part of the remake as well, along with the Kakamora and Te Kā.
Behind the camera, Thomas Kail directed the movie. The screenplay is by Jared Bush and Dana Ledooux Miller. The music includes work from Mark Mancina and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The movie has already drawn a notably positive critical response. In his review, critic Owen Gleiberman said the remake rises above the usual problems attached to Disney’s live-action reworkings and argued that it captures the beauty, humor and fairy-tale magic of "Moana" in a way that works even for children who have never seen the animated version.
For Disney fans, the takeaway is straightforward: the live-action "Moana" becomes a Disney+ title on Oct. 21, with its core story, major creatures and several key characters from the original all part of the new adaptation.
