It looks like Disney isn’t done sailing with Moana anytime soon. With the live-action remake set to arrive in theaters next week, Dwayne Johnson says “Moana 3” is already in the works, with “Moana” and “Moana 2” veterans Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller expected to write the next animated sequel.
Speaking at a press conference for the live-action “Moana” in Rio de Janeiro, Johnson confirmed that discussions are already underway. “Yes, we have talked about Moana 3, yes,” Johnson said, according to People. He added that Bush and Ledoux Miller “will pen Moana 3,” while making clear that the immediate focus is still on the live-action film.
READ MORE: ‘Moana 2’ Review: This Disney Princess Has The Power, But Her Songs Are Weak
That is hardly a surprise, given how aggressively Disney has turned “Moana” into one of its most valuable modern franchises. The original 2016 animated film, starring Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana and Johnson as Maui, became a long-tail streaming favorite, while “Moana 2” turned into a massive theatrical win after it was originally developed as a Disney+ series. A third animated film was always the logical next move if Disney wanted to keep the franchise moving.
Still, the timing of Johnson’s reveal is notable, as the live-action “Moana” may not enter theaters with the outsized momentum of Disney’s recent “Lilo & Stitch” remake. Deadline previously reported that the film was tracking for an $85 million domestic opening, while Boxoffice Pro now forecasts between $65 million and $80 million. Less established social box-office accounts, including Global Box Office, have suggested an even softer $50 million-$70 million range. However, that should be treated more as online tracking chatter than a firm industry projection.
That would still be a strong start, but it also suggests a more modest launch than Disney may have hoped for, especially given the brand’s strength. But it does sharpen the question around Disney’s current franchise strategy: how much “Moana” is too much “Moana” in too short a span?
The live-action “Moana” stars Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana, with Johnson reprising Maui and Jemaine Clement returning as Tamatoa. The cast also includes John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen, with Cravalho serving as an executive producer. Thomas Kail directs from a screenplay by Bush and Ledoux Miller.
As for “Moana 3,” there are no plot details, a release date, a director, or an official studio announcement yet. For now, Disney still has to see whether audiences are ready to buy a ticket for another version of the same story before the franchise sails into its next animated chapter.
The live-action “Moana” opens in theaters July 10.
