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Disney Overhauls ‘Moana’ Sequel: What Happened to the Original Plan?

Moana looking shocked
Credit: Disney

Disney’s follow-up to the beloved Moana has taken a surprising turn. At the beginning of 2024, what was once a small-screen continuation of the 2016 animated classic evolved into Moana 2, a full-blown cinematic event. Fans could hardly contain their excitement as they witnessed the transformation of what started as a Disney+ series into a much larger feature film.

Moana grabs Maui's face

Credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios

Looking back to 2016, Disney was riding high on the success of Zootopia. As the year wrapped up, Moana hit theaters, quickly embedding itself in the hearts of audiences worldwide. Starring a fresh talent, Auli’i Cravalho, alongside the Hollywood titan Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the film delved into Polynesian culture and mythos, telling the tale of Moana (Cravalho), a young girl destined to restore the heart of Te Fiti with the help of Maui (Johnson), a playful demigod.

Directed by the iconic duo Ron Clements and John Musker and with a screenplay by Jared Bush, Moana grossed an impressive $687 million at the global box office. However, its impact only grew over the years, and in 2023, it reigned as the most streamed movie in the United States, a testament to its enduring legacy.

Disney's Moana

Credit: Disney

The musical’s popular hits, including “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome,” propelled Moana into becoming a franchise juggernaut for Disney. These songs, crafted by lyrical genius Lin-Manuel Miranda alongside Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i, became timeless anthems. In Disney’s recent shareholder meeting, the franchise was recognized as one of the company’s crown jewels with injections into theme parks and cruises.

Earlier in the year, Disney gave fans a glimpse of the highly anticipated sequel, breaking records with Moana 2’s trailer, which garnered nearly 200 million views in just 24 hours. Merchandise sales for the franchise also doubled, reflecting the growing buzz.

Moana sports a new look in an image from Moana 2

Credit: Disney

Jennifer Lee, Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer at the time, had been overseeing the project seemingly since before 2020. During Disney’s Investor Day, Lee confirmed that Moana: The Series was in development, leaving fans curious about what was next for their favorite heroine. Yet, the tides shifted drastically in 2024 when Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, announced that the television project would instead become Moana 2—a theatrical release.

Despite initial concerns about the shift, the trailers quickly quelled any doubts. As fans watched the film’s teaser and special look, excitement surged. Jennifer Lee, speaking to Entertainment Weekly, shed light on the decision to abandon the TV series: “We constantly screen [our projects], even in drawing [phase] with sketches. It was getting bigger and bigger and more epic, and we really wanted to see it on the big screen. It creatively evolved, and it felt like an organic thing.”

Disney's Moana

Credit: Disney

Moana 2 is slated for a grand Thanksgiving release on November 27, 2024, and the buzz around the movie has only increased after Disney Animation (@DisneyAnimation) dropped a new special look on social media earlier this week.

See what lies beyond with Disney’s #Moana2, arriving only in theaters November 27!

The visuals, especially, left fans in awe, and the introduction of new characters like Kele (voiced by David Fane) and Loto (Rose Matafeo) promised fresh dynamics for the upcoming adventure. Despite this, there are hints that not all of the new characters will have as much screen time as originally envisioned.

Co-director Dana Ledoux Miller shared insights, explaining that transitioning the series into a feature film required streamlining some elements: “In the series, there was a lot more room to play with some of the ensemble. [The shift was about] streamlining into all the things that we love most about Moana as our hero and our adventurer.”

Moana 2 First Look

Credit: Disney

She went on to emphasize the scope of the new project: “Every element of the adventure that we were already building in the series is now 10 times bigger, 10 times more exciting.” Miller joins David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand in the director’s seat, while the Grammy-winning duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, known for The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, take over songwriting duties from Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Returning to their iconic roles are Auli’i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, alongside familiar voices such as Temuera Morrison (Tui), Nicole Scherzinger (Sina), and Rachel House (Tala). New characters like Moni (Hualālai Chung), Matangi (Awhimai Fraser), and Tautai Vasa (Gerald Ramsey) promise to expand Moana’s crew of allies as she embarks on her latest adventure.

Moana (L) and Maui (R)

Credit: Disney

In addition to the animated sequel, a live-action version of Moana was also announced in 2023, co-produced by Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions. However, its announcement was met with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism. While the live-action genre has had successes, Disney’s recent remakes have not all been met with universal acclaim.

From the backlash surrounding The Little Mermaid (2023) to the resurfacing controversies over Snow White, the live-action pipeline has faced its challenges. The Moana live-action adaptation, though, is now slated for a 2026 release, a couple of years after Moana 2 hits theaters.

With Moana 2 rapidly approaching, excitement is palpable. How do you feel about Disney’s decision to bring Moana back to the big screen? What are your thoughts on the direction the story is taking? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

About Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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