The first trailer for Disney's upcoming live-action remake of Moana has ignited a fierce online debate, with fans accusing the studio of whitewashing the lead character by altering her iconic hair.
The controversy centres on the depiction of Moana's hair in the 60-second teaser. In the original 2016 animated film, the Polynesian heroine sports long, voluminous, curly locks that are tossed by the ocean. However, in the new live-action preview, the hair of actress Catherine Laga'aia appears significantly flatter and straighter.
Fan Backlash and Accusations
This stylistic choice has drawn immediate criticism from audiences on social media platform X. Many fans expressed their disappointment, pointing out that the change undermines the careful representation celebrated in the animation.
One user, anaiis, wrote, 'Seeing the changes to Moana’s hair in the live-action remake is heartbreaking. Other than Merida, it was one of the first times I saw my texture represented in a Disney film and it was a huge boost to my confidence as a tween.'
The confusion is compounded by the fact that Catherine Laga'aia's natural hair, seen in photos outside of the film, closely matches the curly texture of the animated Moana. User PlanetRoxy questioned, 'Her natural hair is exactly the same as the animated version of Moana make it make sense.'
Others directly accused Disney of whitewashing. User MelanatedTarg stated bluntly, 'They whitewashed Moana,' while izme_josh asked, 'Why are we doing 2000s era whitewashing of non-white characters? Her natural hair looks exactly like cartoon Moana.'
Disney's History and Technical Efforts
The criticism is particularly stinging given the original film's legacy. When the animated Moana was created, the team at Walt Disney Animation Studios developed special technology to accurately simulate long, curly hair interacting with characters and their environment.
According to the studio's official website, this presented 'demanding simulation needs' that required changes throughout the entire hair simulation pipeline. This historical context makes the live-action departure even more perplexing for fans.
This is not the first time Disney has faced such accusations. The studio was previously criticised for lightening Princess Tiana's skin and giving her Eurocentric features in a Wreck-It Ralph 2 trailer, a mistake they later corrected. Similar concerns over colourism were raised with the casting for the live-action Lilo and Stitch.
Looking Ahead
Despite the controversy, anticipation for the film remains high. The animated sequel, released in November 2024, grossed over $1 billion, demonstrating the franchise's immense popularity.
The live-action remake, which sees Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson reprising his role as Maui and original star Auli'i Cravalho serving as an executive producer, is scheduled for release in cinemas on July 10, 2026.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Disney for a comment regarding the fans' concerns.
