Moana 2 has been confirmed by Disney, with the surprise sequel coming much sooner than most expected.
Disney may be busy with the likes of Star Wars and Marvel, but they are still focused on continuing to create animated movies of their own, following up on recent standouts over the years like Frozen, Inside Out, and now Moana, too.
And while we knew a live-action Moana was in the works, it’s now been revealed that Moana 2 is also on the way and set to arrive sooner rather than later.
The first Moana film, which hit theaters in 2016, was a massive hit for Disney and was both a commercial and critical success. Can the follow up match that? Here’s what we know so far.
Moana 2 release date
Moana 2 will arrive in theaters on November 27, 2024.
It has not been confirmed when the new movie will then make its way to Disney+, however we’ll be sure to keep you updated when this is announced in full.
What will the sequel be about?
The sequel will see Moana embarking on a new adventure to Oceania, along with Maui and a new team of explorers.
While the exact details about the upcoming film are still largely unknown, Disney did release an official synopsis of the film alongside the brief announcement trailer.
“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,” the official description reads.
“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.”
We also know, thanks to the announcements at D23, that Moana will now have a little sister in the new movie, who definitely resembles her sibling.
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First look at Moana’s younger sister, Simea in ‘Moana 2’ has been revealed. pic.twitter.com/cTy2DQsu2f
— Cartoon Base (@TheCartoonBase) August 10, 2024
As for the music, we know the title of one of the new songs, ‘Who We’re Meant to Be’, which Auli’i Cravalho performed live at D23.
Moana 2 cast
Auli’i Cravalho will return to lend her vocal talents to the role of Moana once more, as will Dwayne Johnson in his role as Maui.
Johnson has spoken about his excitement for his return for the sequel, but it remains to be seen what the new movie will mean for the live-action Moana and Johnson’s apparent involvement in that.
Joining the cast is Nicole Scherzinger, who will play Sina. We also know Lin Manuel Miranda will not return.
Is there a trailer?
Disney released a very brief teaser trailer for Moana 2 in February 2024, and you can watch that right here:
This was then followed by the first full-length teaser which dropped on May 29, 2024. You can watch it for yourself below:
The teaser doesn’t give too much away, but Moana is shown to be leaving her family and travelling across the ocean. The dramatic and beautiful animation gives just a hint of what could be to come — but don’t worry, there’s still a sneak peak of everyone’s favorite demigod, Maui!
Finally, Disney released the full length trailer on August 9, 2024, which you can watch below:
Moana definitely seems to be in her element this time around, travelling freely. We get a first look at her little sister, as well as a listen to some of the new music in the movie. However, there seems to be some drama as well, as Moana gets a call to go to an island with a mysterious curse.
And that’s all you need to know about Moana 2 before it arrives in theaters. For more from Disney, check out what we know about the rumors of an Emperor’s New Groove live-action movie, or look ahead to the new movies that have us excited, like Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5.