Disney fans have been sent wild after the company announced a blockbuster sequel set for theatrical release in November.
Moana 2 was originally set to be a series released on Disney +, but CEO Bob Iger announced on Wednesday that the studio plans to release it as a feature film.
Its 2016 predecessor boasts a 96 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes, so film buffs are understandably excited for the shock release.
In response to the big news, one expectant fan wrote: ‘Moana 2 is the only movie I’m looking forward to this year [sic].’
The move comes as several studios and streaming services are pairing back streaming releases in favor of more financially lucrative theatrical features.
Disney CEO Bob Iger announced on Wednesday that the studio plans to release a sequel to its animated blockbuster Moana (2016)
The upcoming feature film is set to be released in theatres in November of this year. Pictured: A ‘first look’ at Moana 2
One fan wrote: ‘Moana 2?? We didn’t see this coming, I can’t wait’
The announcement’s timing was particularly surprising, as Disney has already announced plans to release a live-action remake of the first Moana film, in which original voice actor Dwayne Johnson would reprise his role as the demigod Māui.
It is unclear if he or Auliʻi Cravalho (Moana) will reprise their lead roles for the sequel.
This has not stopped excitement though.
Others reacted to the news on X by saying: ‘So you were working on one all this time?! I can’t wait to see it! Hard to believe the 1st one will be 8 years old at the end of this year!!…
‘Well this is very sudden, but we will be watching!…
‘Moana is one of my all time favourites, I just hope they don’t ruin it in the sequel…
‘Moana 2?? We didn’t see this coming, I can’t wait…
‘I did not see this coming. I’m more excited for this than the live action film!’
According to Deadline, Disney reliably locks in the five-day Thanksgiving holiday stretch from Wednesday through Sunday for an animated film release, so Moana 2 is likely to be released then.
‘Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise, and we can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when Moana 2 comes to theaters this November,’ Iger said.
A synopsis provided by Disney, Moana 2 was described as an ‘expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers.’
It adds: ‘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.’
The sequel features a new director, Dave Derrick Jr., and composer Mark Mancina is returning to write the film’s score.
Opetaia Foaʻi, who co-wrote the original songs, will also be returning, but songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda was not announced as part of the project.
Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear will join the project in the songwriting department.
A wordless short video that accompanied Iger’s announcement featured a character who appeared to be Moana stepping off a boat and onto the shore before blowing a signal through a conch shell.
Iger (pictured last year) explained that Disney had retooled what was originally announced to be a sequel series on Disney+ into a feature film intended for theatrical exhibition
According to a synopsis provided by Disney, Moana 2 will be an ‘expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers’
‘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,’ it added
A short clip released Wednesday shows a figure that appears to be Moana stepping onto shore and blowing a signal through a conch shell before pulling back to reveal the title card
It’s unclear if Dwayne Johnson will reprise his voice role as Maui, but he is already starring in a live-action remake of the Moana that is planned for a 2025 release
It was also not announced whether Auliʻi Cravalho (above), who voiced the lead in the first film, would return for the sequel
The view then pulled back and revealed a title card for Moana 2.
After bringing in an impressive $687 million at the global box office after 2016 release, Moana has continued to be a popular streaming film on the Disney+ service, so it’s a logical choice for the studio to create a sequel.
As studios and streamers are confronted with diminishing subscriber growth and a lack of options to monetize streaming shows and films, more studios are turning to traditional theatrical releases to generate meaningful earnings.
A sequel to a hit family film is likely a safe bet for Disney, particularly coming on the heels of the box office bombs Indiana Jones And The Dial of Destiny and The Marvels, as well as the disappointing animated film Wish.
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