New Moana live-action song charts a course from the beloved original to a bold new chapter

Disney is rolling out its live-action Moana with a very on-brand move: a brand-new song that literally lets the original Moana and the new Moana sing to each other. It is a savvy way to make the remake feel like more than a rerun, and yes, they brought in Lin-Manuel Miranda to thread that needle.

The new track that ties the two Moanas together

The original song is called 'Along The Way,' written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and it is built as a conversation. Catherine Laga'aia, who plays the live-action Moana, trades lines with Auli'i Cravalho, the voice of the animated Moana, while Dwayne Johnson jumps in as Maui. The idea is pretty clear: old guard meets new lead, and the baton gets passed without losing what worked the first time.

Musically, expect the vibe you remember: a rolling, ocean-swell pulse, stacked harmonies, and Polynesian-inspired instrumentation that ties back to the franchise 's roots. Miranda leans into talky, back-and-forth lyrics so it actually feels like the characters are speaking, not just belting. Cravalho brings the muscle memory of the original, Laga'aia puts her own stamp on the character, and Johnson's Maui adds warmth and that mentor energy.

Johnson debuted the song on X on June 15, 2026, with a very Rock-style welcome for the new star and a nod to the legacy voices.

"Droppin' our new song 'Along The Way' from live-action MOANA... Cool musical conversation between our OG Moana Auli'i Cravalho, and our Demigod Maui, as we embrace our new live-action Moana Catherine Laga'aia, letting her know that we'll always be with you... Along The Way..."

The Rock is doing his biggest promo tour ever

Johnson also says this movie is getting the largest promotional push of his career. He claims they have been planning it for almost a year, with the tour kicking off Monday 6/15 in Hawaii before bouncing around the world for interviews, premieres, and fan events. He even joked about squeezing in gym time, meditation, and tequila between stops, but the focus is pretty obviously on introducing Catherine Laga'aia to global audiences.

• Hawaii (kickoff on Monday 6/15)
• Shanghai
• Sydney
• London
• Rio de Janeiro
• Miami
• Puerto Rico
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Tokyo

What this all adds up to

Disney is not just swapping animation for live action; they are framing this as a handoff between generations. Keeping Cravalho's voice in the mix while Laga'aia steps forward is both fan service and a smart piece of continuity. Pair that with a globe-spanning tour and a Miranda-penned duet built to connect the dots, and you have a remake that is trying to feel like a new voyage rather than a carbon copy. Whether it lands with the same spark as the original is the big question, but the strategy is crystal clear.