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Disney has always been known for bringing some truly magnificent princesses to life. They started down the princess path in 1937 with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
That was followed up by many more iconic films and princesses, including Cinderella (1950), Sleeping Beauty (1959), The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Pocahontas (1995), The Princess and the Frog (2009), and more. Disney and princesses have become synonymous at this point.
Credit: Disney
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In 2016, Disney introduced its first Polynesian princess in Moana. Moana tells the story of a young girl growing up on an island who dreams of exploring the world beyond its shores. Her father warns her of the dangers of the water, but Moana feels that she has no choice but to leave when she learns that her island is slowly dying.
Moana’s grandmother tells her the story of Te Fiti, the goddess of nature. One day, the demigod Maui stole the heart of Te Fiti to give humanity the power of creation. Maui was attacked for his actions, which caused him to lose his magical fishhook and Te Fiti’s heart.
Moana’s grandmother gives her a special necklace, which she says is the heart of Te Fiti. She tells Moana that the young princess is destined to return it and save her people.
Credit: Disney
Related: Disney Has Found Its New ‘Moana’ Star!
Back in February, Disney CEO Bob Iger shocked fans when he announced that Moana 2 would be hitting theaters THIS NOVEMBER!! Iger said that Disney had originally planned for Moana’s next story to be a Disney+ show, everyone was so impressed with what they saw that they decided to make it a movie.
Moana 2 will see the return of Auli’i Cravalho as the voice of Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, and Alan Tudyk as Hei Hei — yes, Hei Hei and even Pua will return! You can watch the teaser trailer for Moana 2 below.
We are now less than four months away from the release of Moana 2, and star Auli’i Cravalho is spilling some details on what we can expect in the new story.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Cravalho said that she was excited to return to the role that made her a Disney household name.
“She’s growing. She is pushing herself now even further beyond the reef,” says Cravalho, who has partnered with SHEBA and Kuleana Coral Reefs for a short-film series titled “Growing Hope in Hawai’i,” in honor of Coral Reef Awareness Week.
The actress goes on to say that over the past nearly eight years since the first movie’s release, she “felt like I grew right along with” Moana.
Credit: Disney
Related: CEO Bob Iger Reveals ‘Moana’ Expansion Is Coming to Disney
Here is what Disney has said about the upcoming sequel film.
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.
Disney has also revealed that a major new character will be introduced in the sequel — Moana’s little sister, Simea! The two girls are incredibly close, and everything Moana does is so her people and her baby sister can have better lives.
We also know that there will be a new big villain in Moana 2, and Maui knows who he is! In footage shared at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, the demigod is seen standing next to a large pearl.
He is talking to someone that we can’t see, who tells Maui that Moana is ruining their plan. Maui seems all too willing to help and says that he only befriended Moana so he could get his fishhook back.
Credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios
We will have to wait until November to learn if Maui really is a villain, or if he is simply trying to protect Moana.
Moana 2 is being directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller. David Derrick Jr. also wrote the film alongside Ron Clements and John Musker.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Disney princess movie without some incredible music! Popular TikTok creators and talented songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear composed the music. In fact, they are the first female duo in Disney history to do so! And if that isn’t exciting enough, Mark Mancina (Tarzan 1999) and Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i worked together to compose the score for the film.
Moana 2 will premiere in theaters worldwide on November 27, 2024.
Are you excited to see Moana 2 in theaters? What character are you most excited to see return? Let us know in the comments!
