Disney's 'Oceania' live‑action film launches with Dwayne Johnson as Maui

Disney’s live‑action adaptation of “Oceania” opened with a world‑premiere at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The event featured Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui and newcomer Catherine Laga’aia as Vaiana, with a live orchestral performance of Lin‑Manuel Miranda’s score by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The movie is slated to hit U.S. theaters this weekend and will arrive in Italy on 19 August 2026. Early estimates project a global box‑office take of around $130 million. Critics note that the film stays faithful to the 2016 animated original, praising its visuals, music and Thomas Kail’s direction, while highlighting the strong chemistry between Johnson and Laga’aia.