Disney has announced a surprise sequel to its popular animated musical Moana, which is set to hit theaters in November.
During an earnings call on Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that Moana 2 was initially developed as a television series.
“We were impressed by what we saw and knew it deserved a theatrical release,” he said, adding that Moana has been streamed for more than a billion minutes on Disney+ in 2023 alone, highlighting its continued popularity.
Set in Polynesia, the film follows the teenage heroine as she embarks on a journey across the ocean with the demigod Maui, in order to save her people. The film was a huge success, grossing $643 million worldwide and being nominated for two Academy Awards.
Dave Derrick Jr., who worked on the original film as a storyboard artist, will direct Moana 2, while Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Obitaya Foai and Mark Mancina will write the songs. Foa'i and Mancina worked on the songs for the first film with Hamilton creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Moana 2, which will be released on November 27, will be “a new, expanded journey with Moana, Maui, and an all-new crew of unexpected sailors,” Disney said.
The film description reads: “After receiving an unexpected call from her way-seeking ancestors, Moana must travel to the distant seas of Oceania and to long-lost dangerous waters for an adventure unlike anything she has ever encountered.”
It's unusual for what could be considered a major film to be announced so close to a theatrical release, especially since a live-action remake of Moana is scheduled for release in 2025. The live-action film, like the animated original, will star Dwayne “The “Rock” Johnson as the demigod Maui. The role of Moana has not yet been cast in the film, but original voice actor Auli'i Cravalho has confirmed that she will not be playing the role.
Iger also announced on the earnings call that Disney+ has acquired the streaming rights to Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which will hit the platform on March 15. The Disney+ version will include five songs that were not included in the theatrical or video-on-demand releases.
Disney is also set to invest $1.5 billion in Epic Games, the studio behind the popular video game Fortnite, as part of a partnership to create a new “gaming and entertainment universe” that will feature characters from Disney's massive portfolio of intellectual property – spanning franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Avatar. – Included in both Fortnite and other Epic Games projects.