Disney is all set to bring the magic of Moana back to the big screen. After winning over the audience with the animated hit in 2016, the film is now all set to return with a live-action version after a decade. The film will hit the silver screens worldwide on July 10, 2026. So, as fans wait to see what the film has in store, let’s take a look at the cast fees and the film’s total budget.
Dwayne Johnson tops the Moana cast fee list with a massive paycheck
Catherine Laga’aia will be seen in the lead role of ‘Moana’ in the upcoming film, Moana. The film will mark the debut of the young New Zealand actress who was chosen through an extensive casting process. While her salary has not been disclosed, given that it is her first film, it is believed it won’t be the same as her co-stars’. According to reports, the debutante is likely to have landed in a lower financial bracket compared to established co-stars like Dwayne Johnson.
Considering the typical paychecks of newcomers with Disney, Catherine Laga’aia’s salary might not match The Rock’s. However, it will allegedly be significant. Reports suggest that Disney typically pays young actors in similar roles around USD 100,000 to USD 500,000 for lead roles in major productions, though this is speculative for ‘Moana’. On the other hand, Dwayne Johnson will be charging a significant amount for his role as ‘Maui’.
According to reports, Dwayne Johnson will be charging in millions for his role in Moana. The actor is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, with reported fees for major studio productions consistently in the USD 20-25 million range or higher. While a specific deal for Moana has not been confirmed, his track record with Disney and the scale of this production make a top-tier, multimillion-dollar paycheck almost certain.
If reports are to be believed, Dwayne Johnson is expected to earn approximately USD 21 million for his role as ‘Maui’ in the live-action film. The number aligns with his usual fee as one of the top actors in the industry. However, it won’t be Johnson’s only source of income in the film. Reports suggest that the actor may also negotiate back-end points (profit participation) rather than a flat fee, which could be anywhere around 3-9 per cent of the gross revenue.
Talking about the supporting cast, John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen will bring genuine Pacific Island heritage to the live-action, Moana. The pick reflects on Disney’s casting priority for representation. Their individual deals have not been made public, but supporting roles in USD 200+ million-budget films typically range from USD 500,000 to USD 2 million each.
What is the budget for live-action, Moana?
Disney has not officially confirmed the budget or individual cast salaries for Moana. However, industry reports and tracking sources indicate that the film might easily be in a production budget of USD 200 million or more. Some have even estimated it at USD 250 million, making it one of the more expensive live-action remakes Disney has attempted. According to reports, the high cost is not unreasonable, as the original Moana featured a living, expressive ocean as a central character.
Reports have noted that recreating that in live action with CGI at a convincing level of quality is enormously expensive. Further expenses include intricate production designs that required authentically building the Polynesian world. That is followed by location shoots and the kind of technical crew a film of this ambition demands; the budget figure starts to make sense.