Disney has thrown a curve ball at fans, as the studio has released a surprise promo video revealing that Moana 2 is headed to theatres this Thanksgiving! Disney CEO Bob Iger said of the project, “Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise, and we can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when Moana 2 comes to theaters this November.”
The official description of the film reads:
“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.”
The film was originally being developed as a series, but as Iger explained on the company’s earnings call Wednesday, “but we were impressed with what we saw and felt it deserved a theatrical release.” He also confirmed that the previously-announced live-action adaptation of the movie starring Johnson, which will be directed by Hamilton’s Thomas Kail, is still in development.
The film will be Walt Disney Animation Studios’ fifth theatrical sequel, following The Rescuers Down Under, Fantasia 2000, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Frozen II.
Dave Derrick Jr., who served as story director for Strange World and worked in the art department for other Disney films like the original Moana and Encanto, will direct the film. Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, who won a Grammy for their Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, will write original songs with Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i. Mancina and Foa’i worked on the first film’s music with Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is not returning for the sequel. No word yet on whether Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson will be back to voice Moana and Maui.
This is so exciting! I can’t wait to see this next Moana story, and it’s so cool that we don’t have to wait too long. Check out the announcement below, and watch Moana 2 in theatres November 27, 2024.
