One of the most surprising announcements this year was when Disney revealed that the Moana TV series in production wouldn’t end up just as a series, but rather would be transformed into a fully-fledged movie sequel slated for release at the end of the year. The teaser trailer was immediately shared on social media
, giving fans their first glimpse of what new adventures are in store for Moana and Maui when the film arrives this November.
The teaser trailer opens with a crab scuttling across the sand, searching for a new shell as it has outgrown its current one. In a playful moment, Moana takes its choice for a new shell and replaces it with a different one. Could this be a metaphor for the upcoming plot? Perhaps Moana 2 will explore themes of growth and finding one’s place in the world. Alternatively, it might signify how Moana 2 outgrew its previous home on Disney+ and was elevated to a theatrical release.
It was clear from the beginning that Dwayne Johnson was returning to voice Maui, especially since he tweeted the teaser after it debuted. Cravalho was more of a question mark. But on February 27 Deadline dropped the news that the 23-year-old actress, most recently seen…
The following footage offers hints at Moana calling out to her ancestors, much like she did in the first film. She conveys via voiceover her mission to unite her people who have been scattered across the ocean. The hearty and humorous Maui shows up and threatens to eat not one but two adorable animal sidekicks, adding some comic relief to the trailer.
A Box Office Face-Off Awaits
The release date for Disney’s Moana 2 is set for November 27, 2024, positioning it against another highly anticipated film: Wicked Part One, which releases on the same day. This sets the stage for a potential box office showdown during Thanksgiving weekend, promising audiences an array of musical films to enjoy during the holidays.
Bob Iger made the announcement
in February 2024 sharing
in February 2024 sharing
Disney CEO Bob Iger highlighted how decisions like moving Moana from Disney+ to theaters are part of their strategic vision: We were impressed by what we saw and knew it deserved a theatrical release.
The move underscores an aligning of stars meant for big-screen storytelling.
A Mix of Familiar and Fresh Voices
The sequel brings back beloved characters with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. Johnson confirmed his involvement early on, tweeting about his return. Fans were also excitedly awaiting confirmation about Auli’i Cravalho’s return as Moana—news that Deadline officially announced on February 27, confirming that Cravalho would indeed be lending her voice to our beloved heroine once more.
A New Direction
Co-director John Musker noted that keeping audiences deeply engaged is paramount: I think they need to do a course correction a bit in terms of putting the message secondary, behind entertainment and compelling story and engaging characters.
Highlighting core values from classic Disney films—character-driven stories without overt messaging—could hint at how Moana 2 will find its balance between entertainment and thematic richness.
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