Disney’s live-action Moana is currently running in theaters and offers a more emotional tone than the 2016 animated favorite. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, director Thomas Kail says the new version is built to feel familiar while still offering a different emotional rhythm, and that was shaped in part by his experience of revisiting the original film. He explains what makes the live action more full of life than the 2016 animated original and says:
We trusted that story. We trusted those characters. And we also knew by making it flesh and blood, something was gonna change. By having two people in conversation eye to eye, something transfers there that’s quite powerful.
He further added on teh difference, saying:
So we wanted to ensure we had all of that comedy, all the entertainment. The scope and the scale of this movie, I think, feels quite different when you see it on a big screen with real people.
The remake still follows Moana’s journey beyond the reef, but Disney is clearly positioning it as more than a straight copy. Starring Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, the film arrives at a time when Disney is once again betting on a beloved animated title with live-action appeal.
Moana Director, Thomas Kail, Shares His Story of Watching the Original 2016 Film
Catherine Laga’aia in Moana | Credits: Walt Disney Pictures
Thomas Kail’s perspective matters because he is not treating the remake like a scene-for-scene repeat. The live-action version keeps the core story intact, but the filmmaker has suggested the format lets him lean more into feeling, performance, and atmosphere. A decade ago, when Kail experienced the original animated version, he was in love with the film, and more because of its musical storytelling.
Sharing his story of watching the 2016 original, he said:
Oh, I loved the original film. I bought a ticket that first weekend and saw it Saturday morning with a whole lot of people who were very happy. And, you know, I love musical storytelling. I love making musicals. I love things that give a chance to discover. And I think Catherine [who is 19 now] is a total discovery.
With Lin-Manuel Miranda involved creatively and Disney emphasizing the music and cinematic scale, the remake is being framed as a fresh experience rather than a remake in name only (Via Variety). However, the bigger takeaway is that Disney seems to want Moana to work for both longtime fans and new viewers.
Have you watched Moana live-action yet? Let us know in the comments below.
Moana live-action released on July 10 in theatres.
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