“Make way, make way…” for Disney’s Moana 2! The cat is out of the bag after Bob Iger’s announcement during the first earnings call for 2024 that Moana 2 will debut on November 27th of this year. So far, all we have is a 16-second clip and a short description from Walt Disney Animation. Let’s take a look:
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical Moana 2 takes audiences on 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. Directed by Dave Derrick Jr. with music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina, Moana 2 opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024.
Walt Disney Animation
While nothing has been confirmed, we are anticipating that Auliʻi Cravalho will return to voice Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, though media outlet Variety has indicated that musical legend Lin-Manuel Miranda is not expected to return for the sequel.
As soon as the surprise announcement was made, Disney fans seemed to split between an avenue of disappointment for another sequel and pure joy for the continuation of the journey of these wonderful characters. You can find me firmly in the happy camp, so excited that one of my favorite Disney stories is about to grow.
Moana was a character that instantly spoke to me. She grew up on the beach, had curly, wild hair, and found her royalty through her community rather than the right pair of shoes or husband. Moana’s lack of a romantic focus and her calling to find herself rather than someone else to complete her personality puzzle was a beautiful twist away from a stereotypical ‘Princess’ movie. That’s not to say I would begrudge her a romantic interest in the future, but I can appreciate it wasn’t part of her initial self-discovery storyline.
I’m so excited about this movie that it’s hard to contain myself. Even though Disney has kept the project on the DL until now, It’s going to be hard to wait until November. What are you hoping to see in the next film? Will Hei Hei and Pua make it to the installment, or will Moana and Maui get a complete reset of new side kicks and opponents?
Let know what you think will be on the way for this new adventure and which characters you hope will return.
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.
