Live-Action Moana's New Sound
Catherine Laga'aia Records New 'Moana' Music with Lin-Manuel Miranda for Live-Action Debut
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Disney's live-action remake of *Moana* is set to arrive in theaters, and 19-year-old Samoan Australian actress Catherine Laga'aia is at the center of it all. She is making her feature film debut in the title role — a massive step up for a first-time big-screen star, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Laga'aia is not just acting the part. She is also singing it. The film brings Lin-Manuel Miranda's iconic original soundtrack to life, and it includes a brand-new song called "Along the Way." Laga'aia records it alongside Auli'i Cravalho, the original animated Moana, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who plays the demigod Maui, 6ABC reported.
Laga'aia's Reaction to Recording With Miranda
Recording music with Lin-Manuel Miranda was a moment Laga'aia will not forget. She described the experience with three simple words: "That was insane." Miranda wrote the original *Moana* songs, including the Oscar-nominated "How Far I'll Go," so working with him on new material carried serious weight, according to ABC7 New York.
For a teenager stepping into one of Disney's most beloved roles, the pressure is real. But Laga'aia's raw excitement shows she embraced it fully. Getting to record a new original song — not just cover old ones — is a rare opportunity for any debut performer, ABC11 noted.
'Along the Way' Unites Old and New Moana Stars
"Along the Way" is the film's new original track. It brings together Laga'aia and Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 animated film. Cravalho is not playing Moana in the live-action version, but she still appears in the new movie, according to ABC7 News.
Dwayne Johnson also joins them on the track as Maui. Johnson reprises his role from the original film. Having all three voices on one song connects the animated classic to this new live-action chapter in a direct and meaningful way, 6ABC reported.
A Breakout Star Carries a Beloved Disney Legacy
Laga'aia is just 19 years old and this is her first feature film. That makes her one of the youngest lead actresses to take on a Disney live-action remake. She is Samoan Australian, which connects her background directly to the Pacific Islander roots of the character she plays, ABC7 Chicago reported.
Disney's live-action remakes have been massive business. *The Little Mermaid* earned over $568 million worldwide in 2023. *Moana* will need to live up to that standard, and Laga'aia is the one who has to carry it — on screen and in song, according to ABC11.
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