Dwayne Johnson Promotes 'Moana' as Box Office Previews Begin
WHO:
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia is an Australian actress of Samoan descent.
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia, who is 19 years old, took over the role of Moana from Auli’i Cravalho.
ABC News - Dwayne Johnson, Auli'i Cravalho, Catherine Laga'aia
Variety - Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga’aia
WHAT:
Coming Soon - Auliʻi Cravalho provided one crucial piece of advice to Catherine Laga’aia before she took over the role of Moana.
Coming Soon - Catherine Laga’aia expressed that she was aware of the pressure of reinterpreting a beloved character and reflected on her father's influence on her acting career.
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia stated, “I grew up looking at what my dad did, and I have so much respect for how much grit and determination and passion he puts into his work.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia was previously unknown, having only appeared in a few episodes of the Australian miniseries "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart" in 2023.
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia expressed that her version of Moana is a little bit older than Auli’i Cravalho’s version, as she was 17 during filming compared to Cravalho's age of 14 in the original.
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia beat out 32,000 applicants worldwide in an open casting call on Instagram for the lead role.
Billboard - Opetaia Foa‘i has written music for all three Moana films.
Variety - The live-action adaptation of "Moana" is the latest Disney film to receive a live-action treatment, following the success of the 2016 animated musical.
Variety - The live-action adaptation of "Moana" has made $4.5 million in box office previews.
ABC News - Dwayne Johnson discusses the new live-action adaptation of "Moana."
WHERE:
Variety - The box office previews are related to the film "Moana," produced by Disney.
WHEN:
Variety - The live-action adaptation of "Moana" is set to be released on June 27, 2027.
WHY:
ABC News - The promotion of the live-action adaptation aims to engage viewers and generate interest in the film.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia mentioned that she was nervous about embodying Moana but was reassured by Dwayne Johnson and director Thomas Kail.
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia mentioned that she was nervous about embodying a character she resonated with but was reassured by Dwayne Johnson and director Thomas Kail.
The Hollywood Reporter - Catherine Laga’aia mentioned that her version of Moana is a little bit older than Auli’i Cravalho’s version, as she was 17 during filming compared to Cravalho's age of 14 in the original.
Variety - Director Thomas Kail mentioned that Lin-Manuel Miranda was involved in the writing process for "Moana" while he was working on "Hamilton."
ABC News - Dwayne Johnson and fellow stars provide behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the film.
(UPDATED July 11, 2026 01:23 UTC)
Auliʻi Cravalho recently shared important advice with Catherine Laga’aia as she prepares to take over the iconic role of Moana. Laga’aia acknowledged the pressure of reinterpreting such a beloved character and credited her father's influence on her acting journey, saying, “I grew up looking at what my dad did, and I have so much respect for how much grit and determination and passion he puts into his work.” While expressing her nerves about stepping into the role, Laga’aia found reassurance from Dwayne Johnson and director Thomas Kail.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 22:22 UTC)
Catherine Laga’aia, an Australian actress of Samoan descent, has recently gained attention after her role in the Australian miniseries "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart." In her upcoming portrayal of Moana, Laga’aia noted that her version of the character is a bit older than Auli’i Cravalho’s, as she was 17 during filming while Cravalho was 14 in the original. Laga’aia shared that she felt nervous about taking on a character she deeply resonated with, but received encouragement from Dwayne Johnson and director Thomas Kail.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 20:22 UTC)
Catherine Laga’aia, a 19-year-old actress, has officially taken over the role of Moana from Auli’i Cravalho after winning an open casting call on Instagram that attracted 32,000 applicants from around the globe. Laga’aia noted that her portrayal of Moana will reflect a slightly older character, as she was 17 during filming, compared to Cravalho's age of 14 in the original film. Additionally, Opetaia Foa‘i continues to contribute to the franchise by writing music for all three Moana films.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 19:25 UTC)
The live-action adaptation of "Moana" is the latest Disney film to be reimagined, following the success of the beloved 2016 animated musical. Director Thomas Kail revealed that Lin-Manuel Miranda contributed to the writing process for "Moana" while he was simultaneously working on "Hamilton." This exciting project continues Disney's trend of bringing animated classics to life on the big screen.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 16:46 UTC)
The live-action adaptation of "Moana" has already generated an impressive $4.5 million in box office previews ahead of its release on June 27, 2027. Dwayne Johnson, along with co-stars Auli'i Cravalho and Catherine Laga'aia, is actively promoting the film, sharing behind-the-scenes insights to engage viewers and build excitement. This Disney production aims to capture the magic of the original while drawing in both new and returning audiences.