Disney announced the cast for the highly anticipated live-action 'Moana' and the young actress set to play the Polynesian princess has been celebrating in the most wholesome way.
Yesterday, 17-year-old Catherine Laga'aia from Australia was announced to play the lead role in the upcoming film. Celebrating the news, her older sister Jess showed the moment the two girls reunited after the big news.
"My baby sister is the new live-action Moana," Jess captioned the video of Catherine running into the room with a smile beaming ear to ear. The two then gripped each other in the tightest hug as family pride filled the room.
"I went to school with some of the Laga'aia kids and their voices are so beautiful, they can make any song sound angelic," one TikTok user commented.
"I'm really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favourites," Catherine said in a press release.
"My grandfather comes from Fa'aala, Palauli, in Savai'i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of 'Upolu in Samoa," she explained. "I'm honoured to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me."
The movie is set to release on July 10, 2026.
