Moana 2is happening, according toDeadline.Bob Iger, the Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company, made the announcement during a CNBC interview, withWalt Disney Animation Studioslaunching a teaser for the sequel shortly afterwards. The first movie made $682 million at the global box office upon release, and it’s received high viewership on streaming platforms during the years since it was launched on the big screen. A television series based on the property was in development forDisney+, but due to the film’s massive popularity, the studio turned the concept into a sequel meant for theatrical release.
In the first teaser forMoana 2, the titular character can be seen arriving at a beach, using a shell to announce her presence. The sequel will hit theaters on November 27, around eight years after the first installment premiered on the big screen. The second movie will be directed byDave Derrick Jr., who previously worked on titles such asRaya and the Last DragonandMegamind. The music forMoana 2will be written byAbigail Barlow,Emily Bear,Opetaia Foa’iandMark Mancina, taking over fromLin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the songs for the first movie.
The premise ofMoana 2follows Moana and Maui embarking on a new journey alongside brand-new characters. 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.Auli’i Cravalho, who was recently seen in this year’sMean Girls, voiced Moana in the original movie, whileDwayne Johnsonportrayed the role of Maui.Moanawas nominated for two Academy Awards after its release, in both the Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song categories. The critical acclaim received by the movie, alongside its strong box office performance, have made Disney feel confident about the franchise’s expansion.
‘Moana’ as Disney’s Next Big Franchise
Moana 2is only one of the projects related to the character Disney is currently working on at the moment.A live-action retellingof the first movie is scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 09, 2025, merely a few months after the animated sequel premieres. Dwayne Johnson is set toreprise his role as Mauiin the live-action version, and while Auli’i Cravalho won’t return to the role of Moana, she’s attached to the movie as an executive producer. BeforeMoana 2was announced, the studio was working on the new animated story as a series for Disney+, opting for a theatrical release instead.
Moana 2hits theaters on June 29, 2025. The firstMoanais currently streaming on Disney+. Check out the short teaser below:
In ancient Polynesia, a young girl chosen by the ocean embarks on a daring voyage to save her island from a devastating curse. Alongside the demigod Maui, she navigates treacherous waters, battles mythological creatures, and discovers her true destiny as a master wayfinder.
Watch on Disney+
