Moana and Maui are hitting the ocean once again. In addition to the live-action remake of Moana starring Dwayne Johnson, Disney studio is going forward with an animated sequel to the 2016 film that will hit theaters Nov. 27.
Dave Derrick Jr., who worked on the original film as a story board artist, will direct. Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina are writing the music. It’s an unusual move to announce a major feature so close to the release date.
Disney CEO Bob Iger announced the news Wednesday. He revealed the film was initially developed as a TV series, before becoming a movie. “We were impressed by what we saw, and knew it deserved a theatrical release,” said Iger during an earnings call. He added that the film crossed 1 billion minutes of viewing on Disney+ in 2023, underscoring its continued cultural cachet.
The original Moana voice starred Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana, a young woman who goes on an adventure against the wishes of her father, the chief of the Polynesian island of Motunui. Along the way, she teams up with Maui, a demigod of the wind and sea voiced by Johnson. Johnson and Cravalho are expected to reprise their roles.
The musical animated feature grossed $643.3 million globally, and it received Oscar nominations for best animated feature and best song for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “How Far I’ll Go.”
Ron Clements and John Musker directed the 2016 movie. Miranda, Mark Mancina and Foa’i were the songwriters.
The news comes as the studio rethinks its franchise strategy after a number of high-profile sequels disappointed last year, with underperforming titles including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and The Marvels. Animation has also been a struggle in recent years, with Pixar’s Lightyear and Disney Animation’s Strange World bombing in 2022. Last year’s Pixar feature Elemental was a bright spot, with the sleeper hit earning nearly $500 million globally.
Nearly a year ago, in March 2023, Iger suggested the company would be more pointed when opting to greenlight sequels, particularly third or fourth installments. “Sequels typically work well for us, but do you need a third or a fourth, for instance? Or is it time to turn to other characters?” Iger said, specifically referencing Marvel.