When Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana hits theaters on July 10, audiences can expect a significant new element that was absent from the original animated version. Although it has only been ten years since the release of Moana, Disney is just weeks away from unveiling this live-action remake, featuring Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui from the blockbuster that grossed $687 million.
This follows the trend of the Mickey Mouse company producing live-action adaptations of beloved classics such as Lilo & Stitch, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, and others.
Moana is now being adapted into a live-action film, and this new rendition will introduce an original song titled “Along the Way,” which was not part of the cherished animated version, as revealed in a video announcement from Disney.
The song, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the genius behind Hamilton and the music for Moana in 2016, will be brought to life by Auliʻi Cravalho, Catherine Lagaʻaia, and Johnson. Lagaʻaia takes on the lead role in the new film, while Cravalho originally voiced the character in the animated film.
In the video, Johnson disclosed that “we all concurred that Lin-Manuel Miranda ought to compose an additional song.” Director Thomas Kail elaborated that he aimed to create “something unique for this film. We considered, what if both Moanas performed a duet?”
The video also showcased a sneak peek of the song, featuring Cravalho, Lagaʻaia, and Johnson in the recording studio. Lagaʻaia describes “Along the Way” as the “ideal representation” of the adventure that Moana and Maui embark on in the film, as they strive to rescue her community by restoring the Heart of Te Fiti.
Miranda further noted that with Cravalho serving as a producer on the Moana remake, this presents an excellent opportunity to create a “musical dialogue” between the two iterations of Moana. From her perspective, Cravalho feels that the song enables her to “hand over the baton” to a new performer stepping into the role.
“Watching her embrace the life of this character brings me immense joy,” she shared. When musicals are remade or adapted for the big screen, filmmakers often introduce a new song to enhance their chances of securing an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
Throughout the years, films such as Dreamgirls with “Listen,” Les Misérables featuring “Suddenly,” and Wicked – For Good showcasing both “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” have utilized this approach, achieving different levels of success. However, the sequel to Wicked was entirely overlooked by the Academy Awards.
Disney has introduced fresh music in it’s live-action adaptations, featuring songs like “Evermore” in Beauty and the Beast, “Speechless” in Aladdin, and “Spirit” in The Lion King. They are now applying this approach to Moana as well, but only time will reveal if “Along the Way” will receive any award nominations.
In addition to the original song, the live-action adaptation of Moana is set to feature the beloved music that fans cherish from the animated film directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. This includes hits like “How Far I’ll Go,” which received a nomination for Best Original Song at the 2017 Oscars, as well as “You’re Welcome” and “I Am Moana.”
In addition to Lagaʻaia and Johnson, the upcoming Moana features John Tui, Frankie Adams, Rena Owen, and Jemaine Clement. Johnson and Miranda are among the producers, collaborating with Cravalho, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Beau Flynn. Mark your calendars, as Moana is set to hit theaters on Friday, July 10, 2026.