Catherine LagaʻAia on the nerve-racking pressure of nailing How Far I’ll Go in live-action Moana
Setting sail into an ocean of expectations, Disney’s new Moana Catherine LagaʻAia takes on one of animation’s most beloved musical showstoppers—determined to honor the legacy while making the moment unmistakably her own.
If you sign up to be Moana in a live-action remake, you know exactly which mountain is waiting for you on day one: that song. Catherine Laga'aia just talked about what it was like stepping up to 'How Far I'll Go,' and yeah, she felt the weight of it. The good news? Everyone around the movie seems convinced she crushed it.
Taking on 'How Far I'll Go' (and everything that comes with it)
Laga'aia told Discussing Film that singing Moana's signature number pulled her way out of her comfort zone. No surprise there — Auli'i Cravalho set a very high bar with the original, and the new Moana is extremely aware of whose footsteps she is following.
"It was really nerve-wracking but also really exciting."
"It's such an iconic song and to get to perform it and show it off at this scale is something that I'm sure countless amounts of people want to do."
That mix of terror and thrill tracks. The song has become a modern Disney anthem, and delivering it in a new format — bigger, live-action, and under a microscope — is its own pressure cooker.
What the remake is actually doing
This new Moana sticks close to the emotional spine of the 2016 film. We are back on Motunui with the chief's daughter who feels the ocean calling. She breaks past the reef, teams with the demigod Maui, and sets out to restore the heart of Te Fiti to stop a spreading blight. The adventure still leans into Pacific Islander culture and brings back the songs fans already know by heart — which is exactly why Laga'aia's big number looms so large.
Backed by the people who know Moana best
The creative team has been loud about their confidence in Laga'aia. Lin-Manuel Miranda called the casting search a truly global one that led straight to her. Auli'i Cravalho — Moana's original voice — has openly praised how Laga'aia embodies the character. Director Thomas Kail went so far as to say no one else could have taken on the role. And in a behind-the-scenes look Disney shared in June, the vibe was summed up pretty cleanly:
"She was unafraid, she was fearless."
Translation: they think they found the real deal.
Who is in this thing
- Catherine Laga'aia as Moana
- Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui
- John Tui as Chief Tui
- Frankie Adams as Sina
- Rena Owen as Gramma Tala
- Jemaine Clement back as the voice of Tamatoa
Bottom line
There is a lot riding on one song, and Laga'aia knows it. But with the original Moana's blessing, a director who insists she was the only choice, and a team framing her as fearless, the stage is set for a big swing — the kind you make when you hear the ocean calling and go anyway.
Thoughts on Catherine taking on 'How Far I'll Go'? Drop them below.