Live-Action Moana Trailer Faces Scrutiny Over Hair Styling as Disney Sets 2026 Release

Overview

• Disney released the first trailer for the live-action Moana and set a July 10, 2026 theatrical premiere.
• Footage shows Catherine Laga'aia with visibly straighter hair than her natural texture and the 2016 animation, prompting questions about authenticity.
• A viral post by influencer Netto challenged the change, amplifying parents’ and fans’ claims of cultural erasure tied to representation.
• Auli'i Cravalho does not return as Moana and serves as an executive producer, while Catherine Laga'aia stars and Dwayne Johnson reprises Maui alongside John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen.
• The trailer signals continuity with the original story’s South Pacific setting and Moana’s voyage with Maui as production moves toward release.