Iger Drops Surprise Bombshell: ‘Moana 2’ Coming to Theaters in November

A few days ago, Walt Disney Studios made what felt like a strange announcement. After only a month of the new year, Disney was shaking up its 2024 film lineup again. Adding the Daisy Ridley film Young Woman and the Sea did not seem like a big deal, but Disney Animation Studios also added a movie in November.

Teaser trailer! pic.twitter.com/2Zp2ZuTLi7

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) February 7, 2024

It seemed strange then because Disney had not announced anything coming in 2024, but now, we know exactly what it will be. Today on CNBC, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that Disney will drop Moana 2 on November 27.

Iger said:

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.

The announcement came just moments before the Walt Disney Company announced its first-quarter earnings report. Disney also made several other significant announcements. Disney Plus will be the exclusive home for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Documentary, former Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban will join ESPN as an analyst, and Disney and Epic Games have entered into a new partnership.

Just Announced (Taylor’s Version) pic.twitter.com/bfmS5s2Y1w

— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) February 7, 2024

Moana 2 was initially supposed to be a Disney Plus series but will be reimagined for the big screen. A press release from Disney said: 

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.

Dave Derrick Jr will direct the latest version of Moana and the music will be composed by music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina; in the press release, there was no mention of Lin Manuel Miranda returning to write music for the sequel.

Dwayne Johnson will presumably be returning to voice Maui, as last year, he also announced that he would be starring in the live-action version of Moana. 

Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original film, said last year that she would not return to the role for the live-action version, but Disney did not release any details if she would be returning for the animated sequel.

Moana (2016) was a massive hit for Disney Animation Studios, grossing over $682 million at the box office. And this comes at a time when Disney desperately needs a hit with its last animated film, Wish (2023), which only made $244 million.

What do you think about Moana 2? Let us know in the comments.