Another live-action Disney remake is on the cusp of hitting theaters and, this time, it’s Moana that’s being brought to life. Directed by Thomas Kali, the film retells the story from the franchise’s inaugural 2016 installment and sees Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui. A lot has been said about the remake in the lead-up to its release on the 2026 movie schedule, and the first reactions are now pouring. Those who’ve been following the chatter for months may be able to guess the adjective that keeps getting used.
For some time now, Disney fans have shared thoughts on the live-action versions of some of its most beloved animated films. Some of those remakes have been praised – like Cinderella and The Jungle Book – while others – such as Snow White and Dumbo – have been panned. “Unecessary” is a word that’s thrown around quite often when it comes to a number of these movies, and it’s coming up again in the live-action Moana reactions. It came up when Matt Neglia shared his brutally honest take:
