One mega big piece of information that Disney CEO Bob Iger forgot to mention in his announcement of Moana 2 earlier this week was whether Dwayne Johnson was coming back to reprise his iconic role as the demigod Maui. Deadline has learned that the action star, in fact, is in talks, and it’s looking good.
The jury is still out on whether Auli’i Cravalho comes back as the voice of Moana. We hear that the actress is in talks, but they aren’t as close as Johnson’s. Cravalho already said in May on social media that she won’t be reprising Moana in the live-action version of the movie. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and mentioned her excitement to see the representation of Pacific Island cultures in future projects.
Disney was so blown away by the Disney+ series they had in development for Moana that they decided to turn it into a theatrical sequel. The sequel, scheduled for the studio’s much-favored Thanksgiving stretch on November 27, is directed by Dave Derrick Jr. The music for Moana 2 will be composed by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. However, one thing missing from Moana 2 is songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was Oscar-nominated for “How Far I’ll Go” from the original 2016 movie.
What happens to the live-action version of Moana, in which Johnson is not only starring but also producing under his Seven Bucks label? It does not stick to its original June 27, 2025 theatrical release. Instead, Disney needs to fill that date with another theatrical release.
As the news of Moana 2 spreads, fans eagerly anticipate seeing Dwayne Johnson reprise his role as the beloved demigod Maui. The uncertainty surrounding Auli’i Cravalho’s return adds an additional layer of intrigue to the upcoming sequel. Moana’s Disney+ series influence showcases the incredible potential and creativity within the franchise, while the absence of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs in Moana 2 leaves fans curious about the new musical direction. As for the live-action version, it will no longer make its anticipated release in 2025, leaving Disney with the task of finding a suitable replacement. Overall, the future looks promising for Moana fans as they eagerly await the sequel’s theatrical release.