Moana Live-Action Adds New Song — 'Along the Way' Revealed

There’s a fresh melody tucked into Disney’s live-action Moana — one that didn’t exist in the 2016 animated classic. Small change? Not quite. It could shift how audiences feel about this familiar voyage.

The film sails into theaters on July 10, and alongside the returning spectacle — color, ocean, myth — comes an original tune called 'Along the Way.' It was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Broadway mind behind Hamilton and a key creative voice on the original movie, and the studio has already shown a recording-room glimpse of the trio bringing it to life.

Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a brand-new song, 'Along the Way,' performed by Auli'i Cravalho, Katherine LaGaya and Dwayne Johnson.

Why add a new number at all? For one, this remake pairs two versions of Moana in an uncommon musical conversation: Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated film and now serves as a producer, sings alongside Katherine LaGaya, the live-action actress stepping into the role. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui. Thomas Kail, the director, suggested the idea of the two Moanas singing together — a creative choice meant to make this film unmistakably its own while honoring the original.

The new song is pitched as a narrative hinge. 'Along the Way' is meant to capture the shared journey of the two Moanas and Maui as they race to return Te Fiti’s heart and save their people. Think of it as a passing of the torch set to music: a conversation across time and performance, stitched into the movie’s emotional spine.

There’s also a pragmatic side to this move. Filmmakers often add an original song to a stage-to-screen or live-action remake with awards season in mind. Past attempts have yielded hits and misses alike — Dreamgirls’ 'Listen' and Les Misérables’ 'Suddenly' found traction, while other entries failed to land Academy attention. Disney itself has leaned on fresh compositions in recent remakes: 'Evermore' in Beauty and the Beast, 'Speechless' in Aladdin, and 'Spirit' in The Lion King, among others.

Audiences should still expect the familiar Disney playlist that made the animated Moana a touchstone: the Oscar-nominated 'How Far I'll Go,' plus fan favorites like 'You're Welcome' and 'I Am Moana' will remain part of the soundtrack, woven together with the new material.

Alongside LaGaya and Johnson, the live-action cast includes John Tui, Frankie Adams, Rena Owen and Jemaine Clement. Producing credits read like a reunion: Dwayne Johnson and Lin-Manuel Miranda join Auli'i Cravalho, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Beau Flynn on the film’s production team.

Will 'Along the Way' become a standout awards contender? Time will tell. For now, Disney has given fans both a familiar map and a new trail to follow when Moana returns to theaters on July 10.