The Moana cast brings Disney’s beloved story to life with a talented lineup of returning stars and exciting newcomers.
Directed by Thomas Kail in his feature directorial debut, Disney’s live-action Moana—the third installment in the franchise—brought in just $4 million from Thursday preview showings.
The live-action Moana arrives with an even bigger $250 million budget, showing just how much confidence Disney has in the franchise. Even more impressive, Moana 2 was released only two years ago, yet the series is already growing at a rapid pace. To keep the momentum going, Disney announced Moana 3 just last week, proving that Moana’s adventure is far from over.
Meet the full cast of Moana and learn how the new film compares to the animated classic
Moana The Wayfinder (Catherine Laga’aia)
American actress and singer Auli’i Cravalho made her acting debut by voicing the title character in Moana (2016). Eight years later, she reprised the beloved role in the animated sequel, Moana 2 (2024). And if talking about the live-action adaptation, Moana (2026) introduces Catherine Laga’aia as the new Moana. An Australian actress of Samoan and English descent, Laga’aia made her film debut in the title role of the live-action movie. Before landing the part, she made her on-screen debut in the television series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023).
Hero Maui (Dwayne Johnson)
When it comes to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s character, fans can always count on him to protect and guide Moana throughout her journey. Johnson reprises his role as Maui, the legendary, powerful, and shape-shifting demigod who has appeared in every installment of the Moana franchise, making him one of Disney’s most beloved modern characters. The live-action Moana marks Johnson’s first film release of the year. It follows The Smashing Machine, a biographical sports drama written and directed by Benny Safdie. The film received mixed reviews from critics and struggled at the box office, falling short of expectations.
Gramma Tala The Storyteller (Rena Owen)
Rachel House voiced Gramma Tala in the animated Moana films. As Tui’s mother and Moana’s beloved grandmother, Tala shares Moana’s deep love for the ocean, creating one of the franchise’s most heartfelt relationships. After she died in the first film, she returns as a wise manta ray spirit in Moana 2, continuing to guide her granddaughter on her journey. In the live-action adaptation, New Zealand actress Rena Owen steps into the role of Gramma Tala. Owen is best known for her acclaimed performance as Beth Heke in Once Were Warriors, as well as voicing Taun We in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Nee Alavar in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and a cameo appearance in Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence. With her commanding screen presence, Owen brings warmth, wisdom, and strength to one of Moana’s most cherished characters.
Chief Tui The Leader (John Tui)
Moana’s father has also been recast for the live-action adaptation. In the original Moana (2016) and Moana 2 (2024), Temuera Morrison voiced Chief Tui, Moana’s overprotective father, Sina’s husband, Tala’s son, and the chief of Motunui Island. Morrison is widely known for his role as Jake “The Muss” Heke in Once Were Warriors (1994) and its sequel, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?. In the first animated film, Tui’s singing voice was provided by Christopher Jackson, but Morrison performs his own songs in Moana 2. For the live-action Moana (2026), John Tui (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) takes over the role of Chief Tui, bringing a fresh performance to the respected leader of Motunui and Moana’s devoted father.
Sina The Nurturer (Frankie Adams)
Like several other characters, Sina has also been recast for the live-action adaptation. In the animated Moana films, American singer and actress Nicole Scherzinger voiced Sina, Moana’s loving mother, Chief Tui’s wife, and the chieftess of Motunui. She understands her daughter’s deep connection to the ocean but wants to protect her from the dangers beyond the reef. Scherzinger is best known as a member of the R&B and pop group The Pussycat Dolls, one of the world’s best-selling female groups of all time. For the live-action Moana (2026) cast, Samoan New Zealand actress Frankie Adams, best known for The Expanse, takes over the role of Sina, bringing a fresh portrayal of Moana’s supportive mother and the chieftess of Motunui.
Tamatoa The Shiny Crab (Jemaine Clement)
Another familiar face returning to the franchise is Jemaine Clement. Like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, he has remained a constant throughout the Moana franchise. He reprises his role as Tamatoa, Maui’s arrogant nemesis—a giant, treasure-hoarding coconut crab from Lalotai, the Realm of Monsters. Although Tamatoa has limited screen time, the flashy villain quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his humor and unforgettable musical number. Outside of Moana, Clement is widely known for co-directing What We Do in the Shadows (2014), which he later adapted into the acclaimed FX television series of the Same Name (2019–2024). He returns once again to bring Tamatoa’s larger-than-life personality to the franchise.
Pua The Loyal Pig
To make Moana’s pig pal believable, filmmakers juggled real animals with animatronics. It wasn’t hard to give Pua a voice in animated—filmmakers stitched together real pig squeals with playful sound effects from Frank Welker, the legendary actor behind Pegasus in Hercules and Cri‑Kee in Mulan.
Heihei The Clueless Rooster
Heihei, Moana’s lovable yet deeply oblivious pet rooster, is voiced by Alan Tudyk in the animated Moana films. Despite his clueless nature, the accidental stowaway has become one of the franchise’s funniest and most beloved characters. For the live-action Moana, Disney has taken a different approach by bringing Heihei to life through a combination of practical animatronics, live-animal performances, and visual effects. This blend of physical filmmaking techniques and animal choreography gives the fan-favorite rooster a realistic look.
Te Kā The Lava Monster
It is Gramma Tala who first tells Moana the story of Te Kā, the terrifying demon of earth and fire who was awakened when Maui stole the heart of Te Fiti, throwing the world out of balance.
Moana 2 introduces a lively new cast. Simea, voiced by Khaleesi Lambert‑Tsuda, is Moana’s energetic little sister who brings joy to every scene. Moni, played by Hualālai Chung, is a fast‑talking storyteller with endless enthusiasm and a big admiration for Maui. Loto, voiced by Rose Matafeo, is the team’s brilliant but quirky canoe designer and engineer. Kele, brought to life by David Fane. Finally, Matangi, voiced by Awhimai Fraser, is a mysterious and powerful woman with a deep bond to the underworld.
From Maui and Moana to fan-favorite supporting characters, the Moana live-action adaptation introduces a fresh cast of Moana while staying true to the spirit of the original.
