Disney Unveils First Look at Its 8th Live-Action Princess

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Disney recently shared a first glimpse of its eighth live-action princess movie in a new trailer. The studio has been updating its animated classics with live-action remakes, and a major focus has been on reimagining Disney Princess stories. Over the past ten years, we’ve seen new versions of tales like Cinderella, Aladdin, and Snow White.

Fans can soon revisit the beloved story of Moana in a new live-action remake, set to sail in 2026. A recent trailer offered a first look at this reimagining of the popular Disney film. Directed by Thomas Kail, known for his work on Hamilton, the movie will retell the story of a courageous young woman who dreams of adventure beyond her island home.

Catherine Laga’aia plays the Disney princess in this new live-action film, and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson returns as Maui, the demigod, from the original animated movie.

The initial trailer showcased stunning visuals, bringing the world and characters of Moana to life in a way we’ve never seen before. It featured breathtaking ocean scenes, Moana’s incredible water powers, and moments from the animated film that now look remarkably realistic.

The trailer was brief and didn’t reveal much, especially what Dwayne Johnson’s character, Maui, will ultimately look like. It left fans with some lingering questions about the movie.

Disney hasn’t had a lot of success with its recent live-action remakes of classic princess movies. Their latest film, Snow White, was poorly received by critics and only made $204 million at the box office.

Disney’s highly anticipated movie, Moana, will be released in theaters on July 10, 2026. It’s predicted to be a major hit and will be the studio’s biggest film of the summer.

What Moana Can Learn From Every Other Live-Action Disney Princess Remake

Maleficent

The trend of remaking classic Disney princess stories began in 2014 with the film Maleficent, which came out two years before Moana. Instead of focusing on the princess, this reimagining—starring Angelina Jolie—told the story from the perspective of the iconic Disney villain.

As a movie lover, I always thought Maleficent really understood how to use the possibilities of animation. It showed what Moana could’ve learned from – the fact that because we’re dealing with animation, we can create things you just couldn’t do with live-action. Maleficent proved that with today’s technology, that’s no longer a limitation, and when it’s done right, you don’t lose the charm of the original animated story.

Cinderella

Following the success of the 2015 film Maleficent, Disney released a live-action version of Cinderella. It remains one of the studio’s most critically acclaimed live-action remakes, earning an 84

One of the biggest hurdles for the new live-action Moana will be recreating the charm of the animated film. If it can capture that same sense of wonder and magic that made the original so special – similar to how Cinderella did – then it has a great chance of success.

Beauty and the Beast

I have to say, Disney’s been doing a really great job with the actors they choose for these live-action movies, but for me, it all peaked with the 2017 version of Beauty and the Beast. Emma Watson, who I loved as Hermione in Harry Potter, was just perfect as Belle, and Dan Stevens made an amazing Beast!

The actors who play Belle and the Beast are still considered one of Disney’s best casting choices in recent years, with fans continuing to praise Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. Early glimpses of the upcoming Moana suggest Disney has once again found perfect casting, this time with Catherine Laga’aia as the Polynesian princess.

Aladdin

Guy Ritchie’s 2019 film, Aladdin, quickly became a global favorite. Many still consider it one of Disney’s most visually impressive live-action remakes, and the way it handled its large musical scenes offers valuable lessons, particularly for films like Moana.

One of the main reasons the original Disney animated movies were so popular was their imaginative music. But it’s hard to achieve that same grand, musical feel in live-action films. The recent live-action version of Aladdin tried to do just that, carefully recreating some of the most magical musical moments from the original animated film.

Mulan

Disney’s live-action version of Mulan wasn’t a huge hit, and it was quickly overshadowed by the pandemic when it came out. However, despite some criticism for being darker and lacking songs, the film does have beautiful action sequences and moments worth enjoying.

Even though it’s a Disney animated musical, Moana also has some really impressive action scenes. Let’s hope the new movie can feel as physically dynamic as Mulan did.

The Little Mermaid

Both The Little Mermaid and Moana have a lot in common, especially since they largely take place in or near the ocean. The Little Mermaid particularly excels at creating a sense of exciting, open-sea adventure.

Creating realistic water in movies is surprisingly difficult. The Little Mermaid did an excellent job of making its underwater world feel expansive and genuinely like the ocean. The filmmakers working on Moana – a movie largely set on the water – could learn a lot from that success.

Snow White

Becoming a Disney princess requires strong singing and acting skills. While some live-action stars excel at one or the other, the upcoming 2025 film Snow White stands out because its lead actress is talented at both.

Casting Rachel Zegler as a Disney princess felt like a perfect fit, as she’d already established herself as a talented actress and singer. While it’s too early to say if Catherine Laga’aia, who plays Moana, will be another success story for Disney princess casting, initial impressions are promising.

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2025-12-26 04:36