The recasting of Moana as a live-action role repeats the brilliant decision of the animated film

The live-action casting for the title role of Vaiana – The wonderful world of love repeats the brilliant decision of the animated film. In 2015, Disney announced that Auli’i Cravalho would play Moana in the animated film. She was an unknown actress at the timebut Disney doesn’t always cast unknown actors in leading roles, especially in live-action remakes. Emma Watson has an extremely famous past thanks to Harry Potterand Disney chose her for the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2017)Beyoncé is one of the most famous artists in the world and Disney hired her for the role of Nala in The Lion King (2019) and Mufasa.

Angelina Jolie has played numerous characters over the decades, and one of those roles included the title role Maleficent in 2014. Disney does not always choose well-known names for leading roles in their live-action remakes. Mia Wasikowska played Alice in Alice in Wonderland (2010), and prior to this role she had mainly appeared in short films. Lily James’ breakthrough role was the title role in the 2015 remake of Cinderellawhile Mena Massoud made her breakthrough with the leading role in Aladdin (2019). Liu Yifei had a well-known career in China, but she broke barriers with international audiences in the remake of Mulan.

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The recasting of “Vaiana” gives another unknown actress her breakthrough role

Disney can change Catherine Laga’aia’s life like it changed Auli’i Cravalho’s

Disney cast Catherine Laga’aia as Moana in the live-action remake, and it is the perfect way for Catherine Laga’aia to kickstart her acting career, just like Vaiana – The wonderful world of love helped Auli’i Cravalho. Auli’i Cravalho was unknown when Disney cast her to voice Moana, and now she has an extensive list of roles, including Crush, Now all togetherand last Girls Club – Be careful, they bite! (2024). Cravalho will reprise her role as Moana in the animated sequel. Disney has given Auli’i Cravalho a great start to a career that will only grow from here, and the same could happen with Catherine Laga’aia.

The remake of Moana could be bigger for Catherine Laga’aia than the original for Auli’i Cravalho

Catherine Laga’aia will be seen on screen as Moana and not only her voice

The Casting for the live-action adaptation of Vaiana – The wonderful world of love could mean much more for Catherine Laga’aia. Although Auli’i Cravalho has now built a fulfilling career, voicing Moana is not the same as playing the character live. Catherine Laga’aia will be on screen and audiences will watch her act and sing. This difference could mean much bigger things for her in Hollywood, as it has for other actors who broke into Disney live-action remakes. Lily James went on to star in major films such as Baby Driver And Mamma Mia! Here we go again after she played Cinderella.

Only time will tell how Catherine Laga’aia’s career will develop after the release of the live-action film. Vaiana – The wonderful world of love in 2026. This role should only break barriers for her. not all Disney live-action stars had a successful career after her roles. Mena Massoud had, after the release of Aladdin in 2019, but since then he’s managed to land a few roles. Hopefully the role of Moana will be a great first step in a long career for Catherine Laga’aia and not just a one-off Hollywood gig.

Moana (2026)

Release date

July 10, 2025

Pour

Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga’aia, Frankie Adams, John Tui, Rena Owen

Main genre

adventure

director

Thomas Kail

Authors

Ron Clements, John Musker, Chris Williams, Don Hall, Pamela Ribon, Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell, Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller