According to People, director Thomas Kail has been opening up about how his live-action take on Moana is carving its own distinct path rather than simply recreating the beloved 2016 animated original — and that distinction has major implications for casting.
A New Vision Means New Casting Conversations
Whenever a filmmaker signals that a live-action adaptation is doing something genuinely different from its animated source, it reframes every casting question. It's not just about finding someone who looks the part — it's about finding someone who can carry a fresh interpretation of iconic characters. Moana and Maui are two of Disney's most beloved creations, and translating their energy, heart, and humor into live-action performances is one of the most exciting (and pressure-filled) casting challenges in Hollywood right now. Who has the charisma, cultural authenticity, and sheer screen presence to honor those characters while making them feel new?
That's exactly the kind of question the myCast community lives for — and fans have already been weighing in.
What myCast Fans Are Saying
Across multiple fan-cast stories on myCast, one name dominates the conversation around Maui with almost comical consistency: Dwayne Johnson. In both the 15-role Moana story and the 8-role Moana story, Johnson tops the Maui vote count with 3 votes each — and honestly, it's hard to argue. He voiced the demigod in the original, he has the physicality, the comedic timing, and the magnetic presence that Maui demands. If Kail's vision calls for a Maui who feels grounded and real rather than animated-larger-than-life, Johnson's natural charisma could be the perfect bridge.
The Moana role itself is where things get more interesting. In the 8-role story, fans have tapped Breanna Yde for the title character, while Maia Kealoha leads the vote for Toddler Moana with 4 votes — the highest single-role vote count across either story. Kealoha, a Hawaiian actress who has already appeared in The Descendants franchise, feels like a genuinely inspired pick that speaks to the community's commitment to authentic representation. The supporting cast is shaping up nicely too: fans have rallied around for Chief Tui with 2 votes, for Sina in both stories, and — in a deeply satisfying choice — for the scene-stealing crab villain Tamatoa. Even , Disney's unofficial voice-acting mascot, has been tapped for Hei Hei the Rooster, which is both ridiculous and perfect.