[E-Daily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Disney’s mega-hit intellectual property (IP) film “Moana” is coming to theaters as a live-action movie. With previous live-action adaptations struggling at the box office, all eyes are on whether “Moana,” featuring a cast of rising stars, can break Disney’s box office slump.

Set to open on the 8th, “Moana” is this summer’s most dazzling ocean adventure film, in which Moana—a girl chosen by the sea—sets sail into uncharted waters alongside the legendary hero Maui to save her cursed island.
This film has generated high expectations since its production phase, as it is a live-action adaptation of the animated film of the same name that sparked a global phenomenon upon its release in 2016. Furthermore, Thomas Kail, a Broadway director whose stage direction in musicals such as “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” has been widely acclaimed, took the helm, further enhancing the film’s quality.

◇ Casting that beat odds of “32,000 to 1”… Capturing the original’s charm
The biggest highlight of this live-action “Moana” is its high level of fidelity to the original. Newcomer Catherine Lagaya was cast as the protagonist Moana after winning out in a record-breaking competition with odds of 32,000 to 1.
Catherine Lagia is known to be of Samoan descent from Polynesia, the region where the story is set. This sets the film apart from previous Disney live-action adaptations, which faced criticism for casting choices that undermined the original works’ cultural authenticity.
In a previous media interview, Catherine Lagaya expressed her deep affection for the character, saying, “I grew up watching Moana, so I was able to become someone who shares her boldness, courage, and curiosity.”
In addition, Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson, who voiced Maui in the animated film and helped drive its success, will appear in the live-action film in the same role. Disney has promised a rich visual experience, highlighting the casting’s high level of authenticity and the music and visual beauty that will carry forward the original’s emotional impact.

◇Will it overcome the string of live-action flops? “Continuity is key”
However, live-action adaptations are met with skepticism as well as high expectations. This is because Disney’s recent lineup of ambitious live-action adaptations has failed to match the box office success of their animated originals. Previously released films such as “The Little Mermaid” (2023) and “Snow White” (2025) suffered consecutive box office flops after failing to overcome casting controversies and issues during the adaptation process. In terms of domestic audience numbers, *The Little Mermaid* drew only 640,000 viewers, while *Snow White* attracted just 190,000. This suggests that live-action adaptations of mega IPs are proving to be a double-edged sword.
Industry insiders agree that the key to box office success lies in how well the inherent charm of the original animated films is translated into the live-action medium. Film critic Jeong Ji-wook pointed out, “In terms of expression, it is by no means easy for a live-action film to surpass the unique fantasy and impact of animation.”
Nevertheless, there is a view that such films have a good chance of success if they actively utilize artificial intelligence (AI) or advanced visual effects (VFX) to bring imaginative creativity to the screen that rivals that of animation. Critic Jeong particularly emphasized continuity with the original work, predicting, “Since Dwayne Johnson, who provided the voice in the original animated film, will star as Maui himself, and a newcomer of actual Samoan descent will play Moana, the film has a good chance of success if it maintains an organic connection to the original and achieves a sense of realism.”