Dwayne Johnson and Lin-Manuel Miranda Celebrate Disney’s ‘Moana’ in New York City

The global press tour for Disney’s “Moana” continues as Dwayne Johnson (producer / Maui), Lin-Manuel Miranda (producer/songwriter) and Thomas Kail (director / executive producer) made their way to the historic United Palace Theater in New York to celebrate the film. The cast and filmmakers behind the upcoming family adventure previously completed press stops in Hawaiʻi, Shanghai, Sydney, London, Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Puerto Rico and Los Angeles.

Producers Beau Flynn, p.g.a. and Hiram Garcia, p.g.a.; executive producer Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films “Moana” and “Moana 2” and who performs (with Johnson and Catherine Lagaʻaia) the new original song “Along The Way” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda; choreographer and associate producer Tiana Nonosina Liufau; and associate choreographer Kayla Faʻamaligi were also in attendance at the New York celebration. 

The red carpet screening event began with an introduction by Kail and Miranda, who in turn invited the Nonosina dancers to the stage for a special live performance that brought a Pacific village to life and welcomed guests to the vibrant world of “Moana.” Johnson and Miranda then returned to the stage for a duet of Maui’s iconic song “You’re Welcome.”

In “Moana,” Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved Oscar®-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. The film is directed by Emmy® and Tony Award® winner Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”); produced by Dwayne Johnson, p.g.a., Beau Flynn, p.g.a., Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, p.g.a. and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and executive produced by Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth, Kail and Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films “Moana” and “Moana 2.” “Moana” features the new song “Along The Way,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Cravalho, Laga‘aia and Johnson; original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi and Mark Mancina; and an original score composed by Mancina. Audiences can experience the brilliant cinematic sights, sounds and songs of “Moana” exclusively in theaters July 10, 2026.