All articles tagged with #live action
In Variety’s interview, Thomas Kail explains directing Disney’s Moana live-action, preserving Maui’s iconic hair and the tattoos via a skin-realistic suit, and tackling the ambitious “Where You Are” number with hundreds of dancers in stifling Hawaii heat, while framing the project as a revival-like process that honors the original story and characters and noting he doesn’t obsess over reviews.
Disney’s live-action Moana took in $4.5 million in Thursday previews and is projected to open domestically in the $60–65 million range this weekend (with some forecasts around $40 million), while international box office could add another $70–75 million; the $250 million production budget and the film’s remake status will test its appeal amid Disney’s string of live-action releases.
Disney's live-action Moana opened with about $4.5 million in Thursday previews, well below early expectations for a high-40s/60M domestic debut, and critics have it at roughly 35% on Rotten Tomatoes; success for the weekend will hinge on strong walk-up audiences amid competition from Toy Story 5 and other family titles, with the film's reception likely to influence its midweek momentum.
Critics panned Disney's live-action Moana remake, calling it purposeless and lifeless and even likening it to AI-generated content; early reviews pointed to a weak Rotten Tomatoes score, while the beloved original’s status and the film’s box-office potential raise questions about the future of Disney's live-action revivals.
Disney's live-action Moana opens July 10 to heavy critical backlash, currently at 31% on Rotten Tomatoes from 48 reviews with remarks that it lacks inventiveness and largely mirrors the 2016 film; audiences have not yet weighed in, while the film is projected to debut around $85 million domestically.
Early reactions to Disney's live-action Moana are polarized: some critics call the remake among the ugliest movies of the year and a weak imitation of the original, while others praise the visuals and standout performances. The film, which hits theaters July 10, is noted for moments of strong chemistry between Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson, despite mixed overall sentiment.
A competent but essentially pointless live-action Moana that’s more CGI than cinema, with Dwayne Johnson delivering an on-auto-pilot performance; the film feels like monetised content rather than a fresh, engaging take, and a stage musical might have given the numbers more life.
At the Los Angeles premiere of the live-action Moana, Dwayne Johnson brought his daughters Jasmine and Tiana and his mother Ata Johnson on stage for a traditional Polynesian dance, saying he asked director Tommy Kail for a brief no-dialogue moment to celebrate his family onscreen; all three appear in the live-action film, which opens July 10. He also recalls practicing and performing 'You’re Welcome' from the 2016 movie for young fans.
Disney’s live-action Moana had its world premiere at the Hollywood Bowl with Dwayne Johnson back as Maui and Catherine Laga’aia as Moana. While embargoed critics’ reviews keep until July 8, early social media reactions are mixed, with some praising the performances, visuals, and faithful songs, and others calling it a near shot-for-shot remake that adds little new. The film, directed by Thomas Kail with a screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, hits theaters July 10.
Netflix is developing a live-action TV series based on the Persona video game franchise, with writer/showrunner Christopher Monfette and executive producers Shawn Levy and 21 Laps; Story Kitchen and Sega producer Toru Nakahara are also attached, part of a broader Atlus IP adaptation push. No release date has been announced.
Variety reports Netflix is developing a live-action Persona series from Atlus, with Christopher Monfette as executive producer/showrunner/writer and a slate of producers including Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps; the project is expected to draw from the Persona universe across multiple games (including remakes and Persona 6 in development), but no specific game-to-series plan or release date has been announced.
Netflix is developing a live-action TV adaptation of the Persona RPG franchise, with Christopher Monfette writing and serving as showrunner; 21 Laps and Story Kitchen will executive-produce alongside SEGA’s Toru Nakahara, with Emily Feher overseeing for 21 Laps. Persona 6 has officially been confirmed to be in development, highlighting the franchise’s enduring popularity and positioning Netflix among other game-IP adaptations like The Witcher.
Legendary Entertainment is moving forward on a live-action The Magic School Bus movie, with Elizabeth Banks set to star as Ms. Frizzle and Rob Letterman (Detective Pikachu) signed to write and direct; the project is gaining momentum after Legendary acquired rights from Universal and Scholastic is producing, following six years in development.
Deadline reports Keanu Reeves is in negotiations to star in a live-action/CGI Lego hybrid film at Universal, with Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4) directing and Jill Wilfert and Ryan Christians producing for The Lego Group. Plot details are under wraps, but the project will blend live-action and animation. The Lego films have grossed about $1.1 billion globally, and Reeves’ involvement comes as the Lego rights were nearing lapse, making this deal pivotal. Reeves has already teased a Toy Story connection, having played Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4 and recently reprised the role in Toy Story 5, which released in June 2026.