Disney CEO Bob Iger recently revealed during the company’s quarterly earnings report that Moana 2 is hitting theaters this November!
Wait, what? Did we know Moana 2 was in development? No, no we didn’t. Originally announced as a Disney+ series, the project was redeveloped into a feature film after Iger was impressed with the footage.
“Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise,” Iger said in a statement (via Variety). “We can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when Moana 2 comes to theaters this November.”
According to Disney, Moana 2 will take 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.”
Dave Derrick Jr. is directing the sequel, with music from the duo of Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, as well as Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina, who worked on the first film. Lin-Manuel Miranda, however, will not be back.
Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho are currently in talks to reprise their voice roles as Maui and Moana, respectively. Do you also find it somewhat troubling that Johnson and Cravalho haven’t already recorded their lines? And this is supposed to hit theaters this year? Okay, Disney.
The Moana franchise is also set to expand with a live-action remake, which is currently slated for release in 2025. Johnson will reprise Maui in live-action for the remake, but Cravalho won’t (although she’s still part of the project as an executive producer).
Moana 2 hits theaters on November 27, 2024.
Are you surprised we’re getting a sequel to Moana?