- Primary Subject: The upcoming live-action Moana film adaptation
- Key Update: Director Thomas Kail explained how the live-action Moana remake will be different from the original animated movie.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 6, 2026
- Quick Answer: The live-action Moana differentiates itself from the animated original by adding new music, dialogue, and jokes, alongside reinterpreting and restructuring classic scenes.
With the upcoming release of the live-action remake of Moana, fans are wondering how it will be different from the original animated version.
Ten years after the release of the first movie, Disney is releasing the live-action version of the beloved modern animated classic with some of the creative team returning, including Dwayne Johnson, who will be reprising his role.
Considering the trailer suggests the live-action remake will recreate the iconic moments and songs from the original, there are questions about how it will be different and why it is still worthy of being seen on the big screen.
How Will the Moana Live-Action Movie Be Different From the Animated Movie?
In an interview with Polygon, director Thomas Kail explained the changes they made in the upcoming live-action remake of the 2016 original animated movie.
While he acknowledged that the story and songs will be the same, he teased that there will be some differences in the interpretations and the construction of the scenes.
"What I will say is that the ability to interpret and reinterpret and have songs sung by different people, I think, just inherently brings texture there. I will certainly say that, especially working with Mark [Mancina], who did the score for the original, we were really keen to examine, moment by moment, "Does this still work?" the director said.
"Some things work beautifully in animation, but because of the way a live-action adaptation might breathe, a scene might play differently, or the construction of it is inverted. What comes with us, and where can we continue to explore and express?"
Kail continued, "Mark wrote a tremendous amount of new music throughout for the score. And yet also, some of those themes from before are still there. That to me was a microcosm of how we wanted to try to approach it — trust what works and also not be afraid to go and explore new things."
Aside from the songs, the director noted that they added some new dialogue and jokes in the live-action remake, despite retaining the story.
"This is certainly one where we were not afraid to deviate, or to have a scene that was in a different spot or a different circumstance. But those major plot points, the reasons you loved [the original], those characters and the way they interacted are there. But there's tons of new dialogue, lots of new jokes," Kail said.
"Some scenes that didn't exist in the [original] film are things we wanted to embrace and give ourselves an opportunity for reframing. 'If this was done this way in animation, what if it was this, given the new circumstances, or this setting?' So we certainly were open to that."
What to Expect in the Moana Live-Action Remake
In Moana, Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved animated adventure, Moana answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.
The main cast includes Catherine Lagaʻaia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Frankie Adams, Rena Owen, and Jemaine Clement.
The film is directed by Thomas Kail; produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and executive produced by Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth, and Auliʻi Cravalho.
It will be released in theaters on July 10, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the original animated movie. It will also be available in IMAX and other premium large formats.
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