(Updated 05/29/2024)
Surprise! MOANA 2 is coming to movie theaters — and the release date is set for this year. Disney announced the animated MOANA sequel as a surprise back in February. We're thrilled that one of the studio's most popular characters is going to be back on the big screen this fall.
Now we've got a new MOANA 2 teaser and confirmation that Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson both return to their original roles. Here's everything you need to know about MOANA 2 — or at least everything that is publicly known about the unexpected sequel.
What's the Moana 2 Release Date?
Disney will release the animated MOANA 2 in movie theaters on November 27. 2024.
Watch the New Moana 2 Teaser Trailer
While the first MOANA 2 teaser merely showed the heroine placing a call to her old friend Maui, this new teaser (seen above) gives us a lot more.
There's Moana herself, new locations, a pig, and Maui!
What's the Plot of Moana 2?
All we know so far about the plot and story of MOANA 2 is what Disney has offered via an official synopsis. That reads, "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."
How Did Disney Make Moana 2 So Quietly?
We've known for a long time that Disney is prepping a live-action version of the original MOANA, but news of an animated sequel came as a surprise. The movie doesn't entirely come out of left field, however. The company has been working on a "Moana" series for Disney+, and that show mutated into the theatrical movie sequel.
Discussing the movie and the series it grew out of, Disney boss Bob Iger said, "We were impressed by what we saw, and knew it deserved a theatrical release." That said, we do not know about the degree to which the story will change based on the transformation into a movie — and we don't know if new work will be done specifically for the movie version.
The fact that the original MOANA was reportedly the most viewed movie on streaming in 2023 helped make the decision to pivot from a series to a movie sequel.
Is The Rock in Moana 2?
Yes, The Rock returns to voice Maui in MOANA 2. In the original movie, Moana was voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson voiced Maui. They were never formally announced as being part of the streaming series that has transformed into MOANA 2, but both are confirmed to return for the animated movie sequel.
Will Moana 2 Affect the Live-Action Remake?
The release of MOANA 2 will probably push back the live-action remake, which is also set to feature Dwayne Johnson as Maui. While the live-action version has long been set for a June 27, 2025 release date, trade reports suggest that Disney will push the live-action movie back to 2026, so that both projects have a little bit more breathing room.
MOANA 2 opens on November 27.
All images courtesy of Walt Disney Animation.