Australian teenager Catherine Laga’aia has been cast in the lead role of Disney’s upcoming live-action Moana movie.
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said Laga‘aia, a 17-year-old from Sydney.
“My grandfather comes from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa.”
“I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”
Moana, the animated movie, first came out in 2016, portraying the adventurous teen in ancient Polynesia as she sails out on a daring mission to seek the demigod Maui and save people after a terrible curse reaches her island.
Production of Disney’s remake will begin this summer, with the film set to hit Australian cinemas July 9, 2026. Laga’aia will join Dwayne Johnson, who’ll reprise the role of Maui.
Her previous acting credits include the 2023 Prime Video series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, where she played a young Candy for three episodes.
Laga’aia’s father is singer and actor Jay Laga’aia (Star Wars, Play School and Water Rats), who posted on Instagram to share the news of his daughter’s casting, who he refers to as Katie.
“My family and I are so pleased to share this news with the rest of the world. My daughter Katie can finally share the news that she will be taking on the role of Moana in the live action Disney movie alongside Dwayne Johnson and Lin Manuel Miranda.”
Other actors cast in the remake include New Zealander John Tui, who will play Moana’s father Chief Tui, and Samoan-New Zealand actor Frankie Adams, who will play Moana’s mother, Sina. And New Zealand actor Rena Owen was cast as Gramma Tala.
The film will be directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton, Grease Live), with Johnson and Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda set to work as producers. Miranda wrote the original songs for Moana.
Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 film, will act as an executive producer.
Cravalho, who was 14 when she was cast in the original film, will mentor the teenage Laga‘aia.
Back in May 2023, Cravalho posted to social media, announcing she wouldn’t reprise her role as Moana in the live-action remake in order to make room for “more Pacific Islander representation in Hollywood”.
“I believe it is absolutely vital that the casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell, so as an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength.”
“It feels really important to me to pass the baton to the next young woman of Pacific Island descent, and I say that with my whole chest …,” Cravalho told the LA Times. “I am one of the few Pacific Islanders. And our stories are so important to be told.”