First teaser for the Moana live action remake shows Dwayne Johnson in action

Disney's live action version of Moana has finally released its first teaser as fans get a glimpse at Catherine Laga'aia playing Moana while Dwayne Johnson joins in as the demigod Maui. The teaser is a blend of lush and beautiful visuals from Motunui with Catherine singing the iconic How Far I'll Go in the background. Although Johnson doesn't have a proper appearance, we do see a shot from behind of him in all his glory as he shapeshifts into a hawk.

The teaser has garnered much appreciation and anticipation from fans who have been waiting for the live action film for quite some time. With the first glimpse out, the film's premise looks quite promising and fans are now waiting to see more of Johnson as the demigod.

The film's official synopsis reads,

In Disney's live-action reimagining 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.

More details about Moana

Disney is heading back into the open ocean with a live action reimagining of Moana, and the anticipation around it already feels electric. The film brings the 2016 animated favorite into a new form and marks the third chapter in the Moana franchise. Thomas Kail is directing from a screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, and Catherine Laga'aia steps into her first film role as Moana. Dwayne Johnson is returning as Maui, a character he has always spoken about with real affection and personal meaning.

The project first stirred to life in April 2023 when Johnson posted a video on his official YouTube channel and confirmed that Disney was moving forward with the remake. He is producing the film with Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Beau Flynn, while Auliʻi Cravalho joins the team as an executive producer. The actor has been much passionate about the project, calling the story his "culture" and that there's no better world for him to honor the story of his people and his passion through the realm of dance and music.

Principal photography began in Atlanta on July 29, 2024 under the working title Canon, then moved to Hawaii and wrapped on November 22. The shoot had been delayed earlier because of the SAG AFTRA strike. Óscar Faura is serving as cinematographer, and Bill Westenhofer oversees visual effects after leaving Captain America Brave New World. The studio briefly explored using an AI generated deepfake of Johnson with the help of Metaphysic, but scrapped the plan due to growing debate around AI in filmmaking.