Feb 8, 2024

Disney's "Moana" series to be feature-length, to be released in theaters over Thanksgiving weekend

On Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced during a mostly favorable earnings call that the animated feature film "Moana 2" will be released on Wednesday, November 27, the day before Thanksgiving.

The Moana sequel was originally developed as a series, but was retooled by the company for theatrical release. According to Iger, "We were so impressed with it that we thought it deserved a theatrical release."

The original Moana, released in 2016, recently surpassed 1 billion hours streamed on Disney+, making it the 2023 most streamed film on any platform in the U.S."

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With this adaptation, "Moana 2" will mark the theatrical feature debut of Kalath-born director David G. Derrick, Jr. who served as story artist on the first "Moana" film and was at the helm of the series adaptation. At Disney, he also served as board artist on the CG remakes of "The Lion King," "Raya and the Last Dragon," and "Encanto." Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade at DreamWorks Animation, where he storyboarded "How to Train Your Dragon," "Rise of the Guardians," "Megamind," "Bee Movie," and "Flash Away."

When the "Moana" series was announced, Derrick explained, "Working on 'Moana' was a gift, both personally and professionally. The film 'Moana' caught the spirit of Polynesia and shared it with the world. I am honored to carry on her story and celebrate the rich and beautiful culture of the Pacific Islands."

"Moana 2" will feature music by Abigail Barlow, Emily Bair, Opetaia Foai, and Mark Mancina. Casting details have not yet been announced, but Iger said Moana and Maui will appear. In the original film, Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson voiced these characters.

A brief synopsis of "Moana 2" reads:

After receiving an unexpected call from her wayward ancestors, Moana must embark on an adventure unlike any she has faced before, into the distant and dangerous, long-lost waters of Oceania.

In addition to the Moana 2 announcement, CEO Iger confirmed during a conference call on Wednesday that Pixar's "Elio" and Disney's "Zootopia 2" are in the works for theatrical release next year. The CEO also noted that new "Anna and the Snow Queen" (Frozen 3) and "Toy Story" are both part of the company's future plans.