Disney’s ‘Moana 2’ and the Live-Action ‘Moana’ Share Several Connections
While the next chapter in the story of Moana is set to sail into theaters this November, the upcoming Moana 2 is not the only way that Disney is planning on mining its popular franchise.
Long before Disney announced that the Moana sequel was in development, the studio was working on a live-action remake of the original film. Initially revealed by Dwayne Johnson in April 2023, the live-action Moana will bring the wayfinders story to life in a new and exciting way.
“This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me,” Johnson said at the time.
Dwayne Johnson. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)
“There is no better world for us to honor the story of our people. Our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.”
Disney Believes There Is an Audience For Both Films
While it seems that Disney has begun to move away from live-action remakes in the wake of Sean Bailey’s exit, the Moana remake is moving forward.
Photo: Disney
In a recent story on the development of Moana 2, the Associated Press recently revealed that Disney decided that the sequel project was strong enough to develop, even though the live-action Moana was already in production.
Directed by Thomas Kail, the live-action remake will see Dwayne Johnson reprise his role as Maui. Unlike Moana 2, however, Auli’i Cravalho will not portray Moana. Instead, Catherine Laga’aia has been cast in the role.
Photo: The Hollywood Reporter
‘Moana 2’ and the Live-Action ‘Moana’ Are in Production
While Moana 2 and the live-action Moana are separate stories, the creative teams of the films say that they share a connection. In addition to sharing cultural consultants, Dana Ledoux Miller serves as a writer on both.
“My world has become all Moana all the time,” she says.
Disney
To facilitate the release of both Moana 2 and the live-action film, Disney has pushed the latter’s release date from June 27, 2025, to July 10, 2026. The film’s release will now coincide with the 10th anniversary of the original film.
Photo: Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP
With two Moana films set to be released in the next two and a half years, Disney has a lot riding on the franchise. The first major test will occur when Moana 2 opens in theaters on November 27, 2024.
