The sudden announcement of Moana 2 in early 2024 came as a pleasant surprise to many, especially since it was set to launch later this year, but it also had its share of concerns.
As we’ve explained before, the original plan was to make a follow-up series to Moana exclusive to Disney+, rather than a theatrical sequel. However, recent (self-inflicted) streaming market conditions have led to Disney making a hard shift toward fewer series and more movies. You know, the tried-and-true formula that made Disney a seemingly unbeatable cross-media juggernaut in the 2010s.
Manage cookie settings
Those who have been paying close attention to news from Disney’s animation division know that this change is unlikely to happen too long ago, as Disney likes to announce content in the works well in advance of its release date, and the Moana Disney+ series was thought to be in development last year middle. Animators and VFX artists are definitely not too happy about this hard transition to prepare an animated blockbuster for Thanksgiving 2024, but it looks like the first film’s stars Auli’i Cravajo and Dwayne Strong Mori has not yet confirmed a return as of late.
While we learned shortly after the announcement that Johnson was also gearing up for a live-action Moana remake (yes, soon) and that he would once again voice Maui, Cravalho’s involvement was less clear. Now, Deadline has confirmed that she will be reprising her titular role. In addition, she herself confirmed the news via Instagram.
Believe it or not, it doesn’t appear that either actor will be returning to the now-defunct Moana series, as Disney animated series typically operate on thinner production budgets, and a good way to keep costs down is to hire new, Less famous actor. Voicing returning characters. The fact that we’re only now getting confirmation that the original film’s stars have begun recording lines underscores just how rushed the theatrical release was.
Will Disney’s financial strength and well-established animation pipeline make the transition from a TV series to a sub-two-hour movie feel right? “Moana 2” will be released on November 27, 2024? We can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst.