Thomas Kail

“Disney's live-action remake of 'Moana' has opened to $45 million in North America, falling short of its $60 million target. The film, starring Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga'aia, earned an A- CinemaScore but faces challenges in attracting family audiences during a competitive summer slate. The underperformance echoes similar struggles with Disney's previous live-action projects, such as the 2025 'Snow White' remake. The film's director, Thomas Kail, hopes to boost its performance in the coming weeks as it competes with other major releases.”

“Thomas Kail, director of Disney's live-action remake of 'Moana,' discusses the project's development and challenges. Kail, known for his work on 'Hamilton' and 'In the Heights,' made his big-screen debut with this film, which faced production delays and strikes. The movie features Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui and includes extensive visual effects. Kail emphasized the lengthy production process, comparing it to his experience in theater, where projects often take several years to complete. The film wrapped production in November 2024 after shooting in Atlanta and Hawaii.”