Last month, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced a new Moana movie which will arrive in theaters this Thanksgiving. While these plans generated excitement among Disney Animation fans, the sequel seemingly came out of nowhere.
News of a Moana sequel TV series for Disney+ first surfaced in 2020, with the idea being for it to serve as a loose follow-up in the same way as the streamer's Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and Up sequels. So, what changed?
Moana 2's shift from streaming to theaters was set in motion when Disney executives sat down to watch near-finished episodes of the series. Writer and director David G. Derrick Jr. seemingly exceeded expectations and the decision was made to combine the episodes into a single big screen tale.
Now, Deadline (via Toonado.com) has confirmed that Auli'i Cravalho will return as the voice of Moana.
You might think that was a given, but the actress still hadn't signed up for the TV series when the decision was made to pivot to a movie; recasting her for a small screen follow-up is one thing, but you can't really have Moana 2 without Moana.
As for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, we heard earlier this month that he's in talks to return as Maui after already signing up to play the live-action version of the character in next year's planned remake (we expect that to shift its release date).
The actor has since hyped up the animated sequel on social media, and the trade is confident he's signed up to reprise his most iconic animated role.
"When I was cast as Moana at 14, it wonderfully changed my life and started my career," she said last year of not reprising the role in live-action. "I believe it is absolutely vital the casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell."
"So, as an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength. I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next young woman of Pacific Island descent, to honor our incredible Pacific peoples cultures and communities that help inspire her story. And I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representations to come."
Walt Disney Animation Studios' epic animated musical Moana 2 takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.
Directed by Dave Derrick Jr. with music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa'i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina (Lin-Manuel Miranda won't be returning), Moana 2 opens in theaters on November. 27, 2024.
After the news broke, Cravalho shared the following confirmation on Instagram: