I’ve been staring at the edge of the water…The story of “Moana 2” is indicative of where the movie industry is headed, and the short version is: back in theaters. Effectively, “Moana 2” was initially scheduled to be an animated series for Disney+. However, a few years after the pandemic, Disney realized the economics of streaming had changed in the eyes of Wall Street, and the company had to pivot back to theatrical releases as its core business. So when Disney CEO Bob Iger saw in-progress footage of the “Moana 2” series, he instantly saw its quality and potential; thus, a plan was hatched. Iger told those making the series to halt production and, instead, take the best of the long-form story and truncate it into a feature-length theatrical release. Thus, only announced and revealed earlier this year in February, Disney basically worked overtime to transform the “Moana” series into “Moana 2,” the movie.
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Set for release on November 27, 2024—Thanksgiving Day weekend in the United States, and typically a time when Disney releases big family-friendly, four-quadrant movies—“Moana 2” picks up with a new adventure, and Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson will reprise their voice roles as Moana and Maui.
“Moana” was co-directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the team behind animated Disney classics like “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” and “Hercules.” While they’re not returning for the second film, this is typical of the Disney process. This time, “Moana 2” is directed by Dave Derrick Jr., known for his art department and storyboard artist work on “Megamind” and “Raya The Last Dragon,” making the sequel his feature-length directorial debut. The film is co-directed by Jason Hand, known for art department work on “Encanto” and “Zootopia.”
Produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, some of the music also changes hands in the sequel. While Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i and three-time GRAMMY winner Mark Mancina— the composers and co-songwriters of the first film—GRAMMY winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear replace Lin-Manuel Miranda as additional songwriters. Alan Tudyk co-stars as Heihei; otherwise, all the other casting has been under wraps.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“Moana 2” reunites Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a 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.
Finally, that’s not all for the “Moana” franchise, a live-action version of the first film starring Dwayne Johnson, which is still due in the summer of 2026.
“Moana” grossed $687.2 million in 2016 and has only become a monster-sized seller and hit for Disney across Disney+ and its merchandising wings. “Moana 2” lands in theaters on November 27, 2024, via Disney, and the company is likely more than happy to have this blockbuster come out in an ailing 2024 year when the box office needs it most.