In 2016, the animated film Moana was released on wide screens. Over the years, it has grossed $555 million at the box office and won 20 awards. Last year, Disney announced that it would make a feature film based on the story. And just today, more than a year later, the company announced that it had found an actress to play the lead role. It was Catherine Laga’aia, a 17-year-old Australian actress.

According to Catherine, she is excited to play this character because it is one of her favourite films. She also noted that she has something in common with the animated Moana. Her grandfather is from Faala, Palauli, Savaii, and her grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai, which is on the main island of Upolu in Samoa.

The film is scheduled for release on 10 July 2026. Moana will also star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Maui; John Tui as Moana’s father; Frankie Adams as Sin’s mother; and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. Filming will begin this summer.

Moana is not the first animated film that Disney is making a feature film based on. The studio has already released Aladdin, Mulan, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King. Some insiders say that in the future, Disney plans to release more films about Snow White, Bambi and Hercules.