Moana‘s live-action remake is longer than the beloved Disney animated version. Ahead of its release this summer, an exhibitor has revealed the runtime of the tentpole, confirming that viewers will get to see more of Moana and Maui.
Directed by Thomas Kail, best known for his work on the Broadway musical Hamilton, the film stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, among others.
How much longer is the live-action Moana runtime compared to the animated movie?
The live-action Moana runtime, as per AMC Theatres, is 120 minutes. This is 13 minutes longer than the original animated film’s 107-minute runtime. The upcoming film has a screenplay penned by Jared Bush, who was also behind the 2016 blockbuster. The live-action adaptation will also mark the return of Lin-Manuel Miranda, one of the original film’s songwriters.
The live-action remake of Moana will follow a similar plot to the 2016 film, with a story that centers on a teenage girl chosen by the ocean to save her island home, Motunui. This requires Moana to venture beyond the reef to find the demigod Maui and restore balance.
Principal photography began in July 2024 and took place at Pokai Bay in Hawaii and at Trilith Studios in Atlanta. The production emphasized casting actors with Pasifika ancestry and employed cultural consultants as well.
The synopsis for the film reads, “In Disney’s live-action adaptation of the beloved Oscar-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Laga’aia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.”
Moana is slated to hit theaters on July 10, 2026.
