{"id":966480,"date":"2026-07-01T23:30:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T15:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/?p=966480"},"modified":"2026-07-02T06:36:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T22:36:37","slug":"moana-live-action-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/lifestyle-en-2\/moviestv-en\/moana-live-action-release\/","title":{"rendered":"Moana live-action release: Hong Kong opens July 9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moana live-action release arrives in Hong Kong on July 9, 2026, <strong>with a runtime of about 1 hour 55 minutes<\/strong> and English audio with Chinese subtitles, Disney said in a press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u3010\ud83c\udf0a\u6700\u65b0\u96fb\u5f71\u9810\u544a\u3011\u8fea\u58eb\u5c3c\u771f\u4eba\u7248\u96fb\u5f71\u300a\u9b54\u6d77\u5947\u7de3\u300b#\u6155\u5b89\u5a1c \u540c #\u8302\u5b9c \u5feb\u5c07\u52c7\u95d6\u672a\u77e5\u6d77\u57df\uff0c\u62ef\u6551\u4e16\u754c\u27577.9 \u6232\u9662\u555f\u822a\ud83c\udf0a (\u4e2d\u6587\u5b57\u5e55)\" width=\"788\" height=\"443\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M_YS0O9K2r4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The film, directed by Thomas Kail, stars Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga&#8217;aia, John Tui, Rena Owen, and Frankie Adams, and continues the animated story of Moana, a Pacific Island teenager called by the ocean to save her people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Near the ten-year mark since the original animated feature, Disney is adapting the franchise for live action, keeping core story elements while adding new material created specifically for a live-motion format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6.png\" alt=\"Poster still from Moana live-action showing ocean and canoe\" class=\"wp-image-966392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6.png 850w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-150x75.png 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-450x225.png 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Release format and local run<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disney said the Moana live-action release will play in Hong Kong theaters beginning July 9, 2026, with English-language audio and Chinese subtitles. <strong>Running time is listed as about 1 hour 55 minutes<\/strong>, the studio said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Local chains including Emperor Cinemas, MCL, Broadway Circuit, Golden Harvest, Golden Scene, and Cinema City have announced presales and showtimes, the circuits said on their official booking pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cast and creative team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dwayne Johnson returns to the role of Maui in the live-action film, a part he previously voiced in the animated features, Disney said. Johnson also serves as a producer on the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Newcomer Catherine Laga&#8217;aia makes her film lead debut as Moana, and the supporting cast includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, and Frankie Adams as Sina, according to the studio casting announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-1.jpg\" alt=\"Dwayne Johnson as Maui on set\" class=\"wp-image-966393\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-1.jpg 850w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-1-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Returning collaborators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thomas Kail directs, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who co-wrote songs for the animated films, continues to work on music for the live-action project, Disney production notes said. Auli&#8217;i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated original, is credited as a producer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-2.jpg\" alt=\"Catherine Laga'aia as Moana in costume on set\" class=\"wp-image-966394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-2.jpg 850w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-2-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-2-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From animation to live action: what changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Moana live-action release aims to preserve the original film&#8217;s themes while expanding visual and cultural detail through live performances and location shooting, the studio said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disney has kept signature elements such as Maui&#8217;s magical fishhook, his tattoo motifs, and long hair, and the filmmakers say they worked to balance faithful adaptation with new dramatic layers for the characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-3.jpg\" alt=\"On-location shot of island scenery used in Moana live-action\" class=\"wp-image-966395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-3.jpg 850w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-3-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-3-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-3-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Filming locations and visual approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Production notes say principal photography took place in Atlanta, Georgia, and on location in Hawaii, where real coastlines, forests, and island settings were combined with computer-generated imagery to create layered ocean scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trailers released by Disney show canoe voyages, waves, and village life staged to feel closer to real-world textures while retaining the animated films&#8217; color palette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-4.jpg\" alt=\"Canoe and ocean scene from Moana live-action trailer\" class=\"wp-image-966396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-4.jpg 850w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-4-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-4-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-4-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music and soundtrack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The film retains classic songs from the animated features, including &#8220;How Far I&#8217;ll Go,&#8221; and adds new original material written for the live-action adaptation, Disney said in production notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Producers say music remains central to Moana&#8217;s character arc, and the new soundtrack is expected to be released alongside the film, the studio said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the live-action version matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The original 2016 Moana was a commercial and awards success, and the franchise has continued to draw audiences: <strong>Box Office Mojo lists the 2016 film with roughly $680 million in worldwide gross<\/strong>, and Moana 2 surpassed $1 billion worldwide, Box Office Mojo reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disney is positioning the Moana live-action release as both a continuation and a reinterpretation, aiming to give long-time fans familiar touchpoints while introducing the story to new viewers in a live-action format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-5.jpg\" alt=\"Cast and crew on the set of Moana live-action\" class=\"wp-image-966397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-5.jpg 850w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-5-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-5-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-5-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the lead roles, the studio confirmed that John Tui plays Chief Tui, Rena Owen plays Gramma Tala, and Frankie Adams plays Sina, the cast list on Disney&#8217;s site shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Moana - Cast - Along The Way (From &quot;Moana&quot;)\" width=\"788\" height=\"443\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/D_dOXTpwV5s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tickets for the Moana live-action release in Hong Kong are on sale now through local theater websites and third-party ticketing platforms, the cinemas said. Audiences should check showtimes and subtitle options when booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"726\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-6-726x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Hong Kong cinema poster display announcing Moana live-action release\" class=\"wp-image-966398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-6-726x1024.jpg 726w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-6-213x300.jpg 213w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-6-768x1083.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-6-150x212.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-6-450x635.jpg 450w, https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-6.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 726px) 100vw, 726px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disney encouraged fans to view the film in theaters to experience the combination of live performance, location cinematography, and musical staging intended for cinematic presentation.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moana live-action release arrives in Hong Kong July 9, starring Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga&#8217;aia; English audio with Chinese subtitles and a 1 hour 55 minute runtime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":966391,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5057],"tags":[2122,21997,41143,41142,5624,41141,41144],"class_list":["post-966480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-moviestv-en","tag-disney","tag-hong","tag-john-tui","tag-lin-manuel-miranda","tag-moana","tag-movie-soundtrack","tag-rena-owen"],"raw_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Moana live-action release arrives in Hong Kong on July 9, 2026, <strong>with a runtime of about 1 hour 55 minutes<\/strong> and English audio with Chinese subtitles, Disney said in a press release.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:embed {\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=M_YS0O9K2r4\",\"type\":\"video\",\"providerNameSlug\":\"youtube\",\"responsive\":true,\"className\":\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=M_YS0O9K2r4\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:embed -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The film, directed by Thomas Kail, stars Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga'aia, John Tui, Rena Owen, and Frankie Adams, and continues the animated story of Moana, a Pacific Island teenager called by the ocean to save her people.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Near the ten-year mark since the original animated feature, Disney is adapting the franchise for live action, keeping core story elements while adding new material created specifically for a live-motion format.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":966392,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6.png\" alt=\"Poster still from Moana live-action showing ocean and canoe\" class=\"wp-image-966392\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>Release format and local run<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Disney said the Moana live-action release will play in Hong Kong theaters beginning July 9, 2026, with English-language audio and Chinese subtitles. <strong>Running time is listed as about 1 hour 55 minutes<\/strong>, the studio said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Local chains including Emperor Cinemas, MCL, Broadway Circuit, Golden Harvest, Golden Scene, and Cinema City have announced presales and showtimes, the circuits said on their official booking pages.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>Cast and creative team<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Dwayne Johnson returns to the role of Maui in the live-action film, a part he previously voiced in the animated features, Disney said. Johnson also serves as a producer on the project.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Newcomer Catherine Laga'aia makes her film lead debut as Moana, and the supporting cast includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, and Frankie Adams as Sina, according to the studio casting announcement.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":966393,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-1.jpg\" alt=\"Dwayne Johnson as Maui on set\" class=\"wp-image-966393\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Returning collaborators<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Thomas Kail directs, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who co-wrote songs for the animated films, continues to work on music for the live-action project, Disney production notes said. Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated original, is credited as a producer.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":966394,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-2.jpg\" alt=\"Catherine Laga'aia as Moana in costume on set\" class=\"wp-image-966394\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>From animation to live action: what changes<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Moana live-action release aims to preserve the original film's themes while expanding visual and cultural detail through live performances and location shooting, the studio said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Disney has kept signature elements such as Maui's magical fishhook, his tattoo motifs, and long hair, and the filmmakers say they worked to balance faithful adaptation with new dramatic layers for the characters.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":966395,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-3.jpg\" alt=\"On-location shot of island scenery used in Moana live-action\" class=\"wp-image-966395\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>Filming locations and visual approach<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Production notes say principal photography took place in Atlanta, Georgia, and on location in Hawaii, where real coastlines, forests, and island settings were combined with computer-generated imagery to create layered ocean scenes.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Trailers released by Disney show canoe voyages, waves, and village life staged to feel closer to real-world textures while retaining the animated films' color palette.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":966396,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-4.jpg\" alt=\"Canoe and ocean scene from Moana live-action trailer\" class=\"wp-image-966396\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>Music and soundtrack<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The film retains classic songs from the animated features, including \"How Far I'll Go,\" and adds new original material written for the live-action adaptation, Disney said in production notes.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Producers say music remains central to Moana's character arc, and the new soundtrack is expected to be released alongside the film, the studio said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":2} -->\n<h2>Why the live-action version matters<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The original 2016 Moana was a commercial and awards success, and the franchise has continued to draw audiences: <strong>Box Office Mojo lists the 2016 film with roughly $680 million in worldwide gross<\/strong>, and Moana 2 surpassed $1 billion worldwide, Box Office Mojo reported.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Disney is positioning the Moana live-action release as both a continuation and a reinterpretation, aiming to give long-time fans familiar touchpoints while introducing the story to new viewers in a live-action format.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":966397,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-5.jpg\" alt=\"Cast and crew on the set of Moana live-action\" class=\"wp-image-966397\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In addition to the lead roles, the studio confirmed that John Tui plays Chief Tui, Rena Owen plays Gramma Tala, and Frankie Adams plays Sina, the cast list on Disney's site shows.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:embed {\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=D_dOXTpwV5s\",\"type\":\"video\",\"providerNameSlug\":\"youtube\",\"responsive\":true,\"className\":\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=D_dOXTpwV5s\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:embed -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Tickets for the Moana live-action release in Hong Kong are on sale now through local theater websites and third-party ticketing platforms, the cinemas said. Audiences should check showtimes and subtitle options when booking.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":966398,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ztylezman.com_disney7-9-6-6-726x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Hong Kong cinema poster display announcing Moana live-action release\" class=\"wp-image-966398\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Disney encouraged fans to view the film in theaters to experience the combination of live performance, location cinematography, and musical staging intended for cinematic presentation.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/966480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=966480"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/966480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":966481,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/966480\/revisions\/966481"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/966391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=966480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=966480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ztylezman.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=966480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}