Moana’s Live-Action Trailer Confirms Disney Is Doubling Down on Its Most Hated Remake Trend

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Disney has finally released the first trailer for its live-action version of Moana, two years after Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson initially announced the project. The short, one-minute trailer shows off Moana’s island home, her connection with the ocean, Maui transforming into a large hawk, and introduces newcomer Catherine Laga’aia in the role of Moana. Despite the impressive visuals, some fans are already criticizing the remake for repeating what they see as Disney’s biggest mistake with live-action adaptations.

The trailer for the live-action Moana relies heavily on computer-generated effects, leading some to wonder if it even qualifies as live-action. Plus, it closely copies scenes from the original animated movie, making it hard to tell the difference between the two versions. Instead of generating excitement, this has left many Disney fans questioning the need for a live-action remake, though most still expect it to be a big hit, similar to the projected success of the 2025 Lilo & Stitch film.

Moana’s Live-Action Remake Is Barely Distinguishable From the Animated Movie

Disney often relies heavily on CGI for its live-action remakes, and some viewers questioned whether 2019’s The Lion King truly qualified as live-action due to its extensive use of computer-generated imagery. What sets Moana apart from other Disney remakes is that the original Moana was already entirely computer-animated, not traditionally hand-drawn. Because of this, the live-action version shares a much stronger visual resemblance to the original than most other Disney remakes do.

It’s hard not to compare the animation in the original Moana to the visuals in the new live-action remake. The original’s animation was beautiful and still looks fantastic, even though the film came out only nine years ago. While the remake’s visuals are currently very similar, they face the extra challenge of blending real actors with computer-generated imagery convincingly. Even though the visual effects are still being worked on, some viewers already fear they won’t measure up to the quality of the original animated film.

The preview for the live-action remake closely copies scenes from the animated Moana, suggesting it will stay very true to the original. We don’t know yet if there will be any big changes to the plot or characters, but since the animated film is still relatively recent, it likely doesn’t need major updates. Because of this, the preview doesn’t give much hope that the remake will be particularly unique or feel like a fresh take on the story.

As a film buff, I’ve noticed a pattern with these live-action remakes. Honestly, most people – myself included – feel they don’t live up to the quality of the original animated films and often feel unnecessary. But here’s the thing: audiences still flock to see them in theaters, and that’s enough for Disney to keep greenlighting them. It’s a strange cycle, really!

2025 Proved to Disney That Live-Action Remakes Are Still Lucrative

2025 proved to be an unusual year for Disney’s live-action remakes. The new version of Snow White wasn’t successful in theaters, sparking talk that Disney might scale back plans for other live-action princess movies. Many wondered if this signaled the end of Disney’s live-action remake strategy, but the release of Lilo & Stitch changed the conversation.

Many were surprised when Lilo & Stitch became Disney’s first live-action remake since The Lion King to gross over $1 billion worldwide. It’s currently one of only two movies this year to achieve that level of success. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics (a 72% score on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences loved it, giving it a 92% rating for perfectly capturing the feeling of the original. This positive response guarantees Disney will continue making live-action remakes.

Unlike Snow White, which significantly changed the original story, Lilo & Stitch stayed much closer to its animated source material. While Lilo & Stitch wasn’t without its changes – some of which sparked debate – these felt small compared to the extensive reimagining of Snow White. In the new version, the princess becomes a rebel fighting her stepmother, a move some praised for its originality, but others felt disrupted the spirit of the classic animated film.

Despite complaints online from dedicated Disney fans about the lack of originality in the studio’s live-action remakes, these movies consistently attract large audiences. In fact, viewers often seem to prefer adaptations that closely follow the stories they already love, as shown by the success of several remakes that have earned over $1 billion worldwide. Meanwhile, Disney’s brand new, original films – particularly animated ones – haven’t been performing as well, with many people choosing to wait for them to become available on Disney+. The upcoming live-action Moana may not offer a lot of new ideas, but that seems to be a winning formula for Disney these days.

Disney’s Live-Action Remakes Don’t Have to Be Nostalgia-Filled Cash-Grabs

Disney’s live-action remakes are often motivated by profit, but they’ve also shown they can be good movies on their own, not just trips down memory lane. A prime example of this is one of their earlier attempts. This remake has remained popular because it doesn’t try to replicate the animated film or improve upon it. While it didn’t earn a billion dollars, it successfully blended respect for the original with a fresh take for modern audiences, making it Disney’s strongest live-action adaptation so far.

Many Disney fans are disappointed with recent remakes because they don’t capture the same magic as the original Cinderella. These new versions often feel either too much like or too different from the classics, making viewers question the point of watching them when they could simply enjoy the beloved animated films. Until audiences embrace more original approaches, this frustration will likely continue.

While it’s possible the upcoming Moana remake could exceed expectations, it doesn’t seem probable. Although the visual effects are still being worked on and details about changes to the story are scarce, the remake appears to closely follow the original animated film in both look and story. This makes it unlikely to stand out as a truly unique adaptation.

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2025-11-20 19:15