Samoan-Australian actress Catherine Laga’aia has been cast as the lead in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of “Moana” [1].
The casting marks a significant effort by Disney to maintain cultural authenticity and provide representation for young girls in a high-profile feature film. Laga’aia, who is either 18 [5] or 19 years old [4], brings a fresh perspective to the character, which she describes as having more "sass" than the original animation [3].
Laga’aia traveled from Australia to Manhattan, New York, for the final stages of the selection process [3]. The competition for the title role was intense, as Disney screened 32,000 hopefuls [7]. Laga’aia underwent six auditions before securing the role [3].
For the actress, the role is more than a career milestone. "Getting to grow up with Moana and having that representation is so important to young girls," Laga’aia said [2]. She said the role resonates with her own heritage [7].
The live-action project follows the success of the original animated film, with the new version aiming to bring the story to a new generation. The production has already begun building momentum, with a trailer released on Nov. 17 [5].
Fans can expect the film to arrive in theaters soon. The movie is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 10, 2026 [5].
“"Getting to grow up with Moana and having that representation is so important to young girls."”
Disney's decision to cast a Samoan-Australian actress from a massive pool of 32,000 candidates suggests a strategic priority on cultural authenticity over established stardom. By casting a newcomer in her late teens, the studio is positioning the live-action Moana as a vehicle for genuine representation, potentially mirroring the success of other diverse leads in recent global cinema.
