Dwayne Johnson teased the news while promoting the live action remake.
Dwayne Johnson has some news for Moana fans, and it doesn’t involve his tattoos.
While promoting the studio’s upcoming live-action remake, Johnson confirmed that Disney is developing a third animated Moana film, continuing one of the studio’s most successful franchises of the past decade.
Johnson confirms a third chapter is coming
Speaking at a press event for the live-action Moana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Johnson confirmed that conversations about Moana 3 are already underway, though he was quick to note that the live-action film would arrive first. He also confirmed that Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, longtime writers on the franchise, are attached to write the third installment.
No plot details have been released for the upcoming sequel. The first Moana, released in 2016, followed a village chief’s daughter chosen by the ocean to restore balance to her island. The 2024 sequel sent its heroine on a new voyage to find a hidden island and lift a curse threatening her people.
A franchise built on box office and streaming success
The Moana franchise has become one of Disney’s biggest success stories in two very different ways. First, the original film earned $680 million worldwide during its 2016 theatrical run before becoming one of the most-watched titles on Disney+. Second, Moana 2 proved audiences still wanted more on the big screen, opening around Thanksgiving 2024 with a record $225 million and eventually earning more than $1 billion worldwide. Third, even a mixed 61% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes did little to slow it down, with audiences rating the film far higher at 85%.
Who is expected to return
Johnson, who has voiced the demigod Maui in both animated films, is expected to reprise the role for the third installment. Auli’i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, is also expected to return to the animated franchise, even though she stepped back from the live-action role to give a new Pacific Islander actress the opportunity. Newcomer Catherine Laga’aia, a Samoan Australian actress who was cast after beating out more than 32,000 other hopefuls, plays Moana in the live-action film, with Cravalho staying on board as an executive producer.
It also remains unclear who will write the music for the third animated film. Songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, who penned standout tracks for the first Moana, did not return for the sequel, with songwriting duties passing to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear.
What’s next for the franchise
Before Moana 3 can move forward, audiences will first see Johnson return to the role of Maui in live-action form. The remake, directed by Thomas Kail, arrives in theaters July 10, with Bush and Miller also credited as writers on the film. Beyond that, Disney has offered no timeline for when the next animated chapter might arrive.
SOURCE: AOL