Disney has officially confirmed that its live-action reimagining of Moana is headed to theaters on July 10, according to Disney Plus. The announcement puts a firm date on one of the studio's most anticipated live-action projects — and immediately raises the most fun question in Hollywood right now: who's going to play these roles?
Why This Is a Huge Fancasting Moment
The Moana casting conversation carries real weight beyond the usual dream-cast debate. The original 2016 animated film was celebrated for its commitment to authentic Polynesian representation, and audiences are watching closely to see whether Disney maintains that standard in the live-action version. Finding a young Polynesian actress who can carry an entire film — and a performer who can fill Dwayne Johnson's enormous shadow as the demigod Maui — is no small task. These are two of the most demanding roles Disney has put on the table in years, and the fancasting community has been buzzing about them ever since the project was first announced.
There's also the musical dimension to consider. Moana is a full-throated musical, which means whoever lands these roles needs serious vocal chops on top of everything else. That combination of ethnicity-conscious casting, physical presence, and singing ability makes this one of the most layered casting puzzles in recent memory.
What myCast Fans Are Already Saying
The myCast community has been staking out positions across multiple fan-cast stories, and some clear patterns are emerging. Over on the Moana fan cast story, which has collected 15 votes across 8 roles, Maia Kealoha has picked up 4 votes for Toddler Moana — which makes a lot of sense given that Kealoha, a Hawaiian actress, already charmed audiences in The Descendants franchise. It's a smart, culturally grounded pick that signals fans are paying attention to authenticity.
For Maui, the conversation splits interestingly across the two active stories. In the 15-vote story, Cooper Andrews leads with 3 votes — a genuinely compelling choice, given Andrews' physicality and charisma from his work on The Walking Dead. Meanwhile, over on the , himself tops the Maui poll with 2 votes, which raises a delicious question: could Disney bring the original voice of Maui back in live-action form? Johnson has the build, the charm, and the Samoan heritage to make it work. It would be a full-circle moment that practically writes its own press release.