Moana fans disappointed by ‘shot for shot’ live action remake trailer – AOL.com
Moana enthusiasts are expressing disappointment following the release of Disney’s latest trailer for the live-action version of the beloved animated movie. The new footage showcases Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui, alongside newcomer Catherine Laga’aia in the lead role, replacing Auliʻi Cravalho who originally voiced Moana in the 2016 film and its animated sequel.
Online commentators voiced their concerns that the new adaptation closely mirrors the original animated version, which hit screens just a decade ago. One critique pointed out, “It looks like a shot for shot remake. What’s the point? Even the animated characters look pulled straight from the original. Put your efforts elsewhere and be creative again.” Another critic echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Hundreds of millions of dollars wasted so Dwayne Johnson can don a terrible wig and deliver the same lines but with worse timing. New low for the corporate slopmongers.”
Fans questioned Disney’s decision-making, suggesting that the resources allocated to the live-action remake could have been better employed on more innovative projects. One disheartened viewer wrote, “Disney trying to nostalgia bait us with this live-action slop when the original isn’t even a decade old. I’ve never seen a creative drought this dire.” Another commenter expressed a desire for the film to fail, “You already made a fantastic movie. Moana is nearly perfect. Everything about this looks like a less charming version of the original. I hope it fails miserably so you’ll stop insisting on giving this treatment to animated movies.”
The cast of the live-action remake includes John Tui as Moana’s father Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Moana’s mother Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. Lin-Manuel Miranda is involved as a producer, having previously contributed to the original movie’s music alongside Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foaʻi. The upcoming live-action adaptation of Moana is part of Disney’s trend of remaking animated classics, following recent reimaginings of Lilo & Stitch and Snow White. Despite criticisms, Disney’s strategy of reimagining its movies has proven to be financially successful, with Lilo & Stitch breaking box office records in the previous year.
In contrast, an animated sequel to Moana was released in 2024 but received lukewarm reviews. The Independent critic Clarisse Loughrey described the sequel as a missed opportunity, stating, “Moana 2 would have made for a very nice television series – as it was originally meant to be. But as a reskinned theatrical sequel to one of Disney Animation’s biggest hits, it’s a little harder to justify.”
Overall, the release of the new Moana live-action trailer has divided fans, with many expressing disappointment at the perceived lack of creativity and originality in the forthcoming adaptation.