The first official trailer for Disney’s live-action remake of Moana has arrived—but not everyone is celebrating.
While the studio hopes to rekindle the magic of the 2016 animated hit, early fan response has been divided, with many viewers raising concerns about changes to character design, cultural representation and the timing of the remake.
What We Know
The new live-action film is directed by Thomas Kail, with a screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller. Catherine Laga‘aia stars as Moana, while Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, reprising the role he voiced in the original.
The movie is scheduled for theatrical release on July 10, 2026 in the U.S.
The Reaction
While many viewers are thrilled to see Moana return to screens, a large portion of the early conversation has focused on concerns about representation—particularly surrounding Moana’s hair.
One of the most widely shared criticisms argues that the live-action Moana’s hair appears looser, straighter or wand-curled, in contrast with both the animated version and Laga‘aia’s own naturally textured curls.
“Why would they wand curl the actress’s hair… Her NATURAL hair is absolutely perfect and the message this sends to young Pasifika girls is not okay,” one commenter wrote on Threads.
Another viewer compared it to altering a defining trait of another Disney heroine. “Imagine if Disney made a live-action Brave and Merida’s hair was straightened with big loose waves… Changing a major part of a character’s design… by basically YT [white] washing her… Gross,” they wrote.
Beyond styling choices, some questioned why a remake is happening so soon. The original Moana was released just nine years ago and remains hugely popular. One user said: “The live-action Moana looks beautiful, but it is still so strange to me that they made this so soon… The original animation is still reaching new audiences.”
Not every reaction has been negative. One Threads user wrote: “Live-action Moana looks absolutely way more incredible than I was anticipating,” while another added: “My kids loved the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie and my nine-year-old daughter is a huge Moana fan and very excited for this.”
Newsweek reached out to Disney via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Research consistently shows that character appearance—including hair texture, skin tone, and body features—can affect self-esteem, belonging and cultural identity among marginalized communities.
A 2018 graduate dissertation from Andrews University, for example, highlighted the impact that media messaging about hair texture has on individuals. Lack of representation around things like hair texture was linked to internalized racial oppression and ethnic identity issues among women of color.
This is part of why Moana has been such a meaningful character for many Pasifika girls, and why even small stylistic changes carry weight for many.
Catherine Laga‘aia, the 18-year-old Australian actor portraying Moana has heritage in Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i, and acknowledged this significance when her casting was announced.
“I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me,” she said.
Disney Controversies
This is not the first time a Disney remake has sparked debate over representation.
The 2025 live-action Snow White remake drew controversy when Rachel Zegler was cast in the title role, with critics arguing the character’s traditional description—“skin as white as snow.”
Disney’s Aladdin remake (2019) faced criticism over reports of background actors being “browned up,” while The Little Mermaid (2023) saw backlash from some viewers objecting to Halle Bailey’s casting.
