Final Trailer for Disney’s MOANA Teases Tamatoa’s Return, Epic Adventure, and More Fan-Favorite Moments
Disney’s live-action remake machine keeps moving forward, and its next destination is Moana. While the studio spent the last decade reimagining animated classics, it has now reached an interesting point where some of the movies getting the live-action treatment aren’t even that old.
That brings us to Moana, which arrives in theaters this summer less than ten years after the original animated film first sailed into audiences’ hearts. Disney has now released the final trailer for the highly anticipated remake, offering the most extensive look yet at the adventure waiting ahead.
Fans already knew that Dwayne Johnson would return as the larger-than-life demigod Maui, with newcomer Catherine Laga’aia stepping into the role of Moana.
But the latest footage also confirms another familiar face is coming back for the journey. Jemaine Clement is once again lending his voice to Tamatoa, the massive treasure-hoarding crab whose obsession with shiny things made him one of the animated film’s most memorable villains.
The trailer gives audiences their first look at Tamatoa in the live-action adaptation, and he looks every bit as flashy and eccentric as fans would hope.
Beyond the giant crab’s appearance, the footage showcases several iconic moments from the original movie recreated in live action. Viewers get glimpses of Te Fiti, Maui’s animal transformations, his living tattoos, and the return of Moana’s beloved animal companions, Heihei the rooster and Pua the pig.
One thing Disney is keeping under wraps, however, is the movie’s musical surprises. Music played a huge role in making the original Moana such a phenomenon, and that won’t change with this adaptation.
The film features original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Mark Mancina, with Mancina also providing the score. All three creatives are returning for the remake, which should be welcome news for fans who still have songs from the animated film stuck in their heads years later.
Interestingly, the trailer offers no clues about whether the film includes any brand-new songs. Disney’s live-action remakes typically revisit the classic tracks audiences know and love while adding at least one original song to help distinguish the new version.
Considering the original Moana earned an Academy Award nomination for “How Far I’ll Go,” it would be surprising if Disney didn’t have a few new musical additions waiting to be revealed.
The official synopsis reads: “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 (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.”
The cast surrounding Laga’aia and Johnson is packed with talent, including John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala.
Auli’i Cravalho, who originally voiced Moana in the animated film, returns to the franchise in a new capacity as an executive producer.
The original Moana remains one of Disney’s most beloved modern animated films, and Moana 2 became a massive success in 2024 after making the jump from a planned Disney+ series to a theatrical release. That continued popularity gives this live-action adaptation a strong foundation heading into release.
Whether audiences were asking for a live-action version or not, Disney clearly believes there’s still plenty of adventure left in this story and they believe audiences will show up.
Moana sails into theaters on July 10.