What can they say other than you’re welcome?
Disney on Wednesday released the first trailer for “Moana 2,” the highly anticipated sequel to the hit 2016 animated film. Auli’i Cravalho returns as the voice of Moana, while Dwayne Johnson once again voices Maui.
The teaser is light on plot but shows Moana setting off on another adventure at sea after discovering a call from her ancestors to “sail to new skies and reconnect our people across the entire ocean.” The new images show off the sequel’s stunning aquatic animation, including a stunning shot of Moana floating in front of a whale shark.
Moana’s rooster Heihei and pig Pua are both back in the trailer. But this time, Pua appears to be joining Moana on the journey after fans questioned the decision to let the animal stay in the original film despite appearing prominently on the poster. At the end of the teaser, Johnson’s Maui triumphantly arrives on Moana’s boat – and, in a meta-reference to the plot of the first film, asks, “Why didn’t you bring the pig last time?”
Watch the trailer for “Moana 2”
Disney confirmed in February that a “Moana” sequel was in the works and expected to be released later this year, which came as a surprise given that animated sequels are typically announced years in advance. It was originally intended to be a Disney+ original streaming series before being reworked into a feature film.
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“We were impressed with what we saw and knew it deserved a theatrical release,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said during an earnings conference call in February.
In the original film, Moana leaves her home, the island of Motunui, to venture across the sea with the help of Maui, a shapeshifting demigod. The film was a hit for Disney in 2016, grossing $687 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. According to Nielsen, it was also the most-watched film on any streaming service in 2023, surpassing new releases like “The Super Mario Bros Movie.”
For Disney, a lot depends on the success of “Moana 2,” after several of the company’s recent animated films, including “Wish,” “Strange World” and “Lightyear,” failed in theaters.
See the official poster of ‘Moana 2’
Ahead of the trailer’s release, Disney revealed the first official poster for “Moana 2,” which shows Maui’s fishhook on the beach with Moana in the background.
“Moana 2” plot: what is the sequel about?
In “Moana 2”, Moana receives an “unexpected call from her scout ancestors” and must “travel to the distant seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she has ever known before.” ever faced,” Disney previously explained.
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The studio also described the film as an “expansive new journey” that will feature Moana, Maui and an “all-new crew of unlikely sailors.” It takes place three years after the previous film, Disney said.
Dave Derrick Jr. directs the sequel, succeeding John Musker and Ron Clements.
When will “Moana 2” be released?
“Moana 2” is scheduled to hit theaters on November 27, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. The original “Moana” was also released on Thanksgiving weekend.
Notably, the film shares a release date with “Wicked,” setting up a box office showdown between two highly anticipated family-oriented musicals.
Will there still be a live-action “Moana”?
“Moana 2” should not be confused with a separate live-action remake of “Moana,” which is also in the works.
The live-action “Moana” was announced in 2023, before it was known that the animated film would receive a sequel. Johnson returns as Maui in the live-action version, although Cravalho will not play the title character. No casting for Moana in the remake has been announced.
Dwayne JohnsonReveals ‘Moana’ Live-Action Remake: ‘This Story Is My Culture’
“I am deeply humbled and filled with gratitude to be able to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the big screen,” Johnson said last year. “This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of the grace and warrior strength of our people.”
On May 25, Johnson shared a video of himself recording the song “You’re Welcome” for the “Moana” remake and revealed that production would begin in the fall. The film is scheduled for release in July 2026.
What other Disney animated sequels are in the works?
Earlier this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger told investors that the studio was more interested in sequels.
In addition to “Moana 2,” other Disney animated sequels are in the works, including “Inside Out 2,” “Zootopia 2,” “Toy Story 5” and “Frozen III.”
“Inside Out 2” will hit theaters on June 14, while “Zootopia 2” is scheduled for 2025, and “Toy Story 5” and “Frozen III” will both hit theaters in 2026.
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