Disney has surprised fans all over the world with the announcement that Moana 2 is happening and it’s coming soon.
On Wednesday, Disney several details about its upcoming projects for the near future, including a sequel to some of the biggest hits. Along them, Disney announced Moana 2, alongside a first-look photo, showing the titular character, her friends on a boat at sea, along with a whale shark. Disney didn’t stop there, as it released a short teaser, as well as the release date.
As shocking as the confirmation for the sequel is, what surprised everyone is that the release will come very soon. According to Disney, Moana 2 will hit theaters on November 27, 2024.
“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,” Disney boss Bob Iger said in a statement.
Dave Derrick Jr. will helm the film, and Auli’i Cravalho will reprise her role as the titular character, as well as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who plays Maui.
The Moana Sequel Isn’t The Only Project In The Works
Moana will return with a surprise sequel. However, it has been previously released that Disney is planning on making a live adaptation of the beloved animation. The upcoming live-action remake is separate from the sequel. Auli’i Cravalho will not reprise her role as Moana, but Johnson will come back as Maui. So far, there’s been no announcement about who will take Cravalho’s place in the live-action remake. There’s no release date for the project at the time of writing.
Moana 2 was initially intended as a Disney+ series, Iger revealed. However, the plans changed, and it will be developed as a feature film. That is a better idea, as the animation works better as a sequel, and it might lead Disney back to record-breaking numbers. The giant production company struggled in 2023 with animated films like Wish, Elemental, and the live-action The Little Mermaid. However, now it’s turning its focus on franchises, and the Moana sequel is among them.
