Disney Studios announced this Wednesday the premiere of "Moana 2." The sequel to the 2016 animated movie starring Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson will hit the big screen on November 27 and the company, not pleased with this unexpected announcement, also released a first look:
The company told Variety that the plot will focus on Moana (it is still unknown whether actress Auli'i Cravalho will voice her again) traveling to the seas of Oceania after receiving a call from her ancestors:
'Moana 2' will take audiences on an “expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. 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.
The company revealed that the movie was originally intended to be a series. However, after seeing the footage, they decided that it deserved to be released on the big screen. This was stated by the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, in the company earnings call. The Hollywood Reporter shared his statement:
I feel great about where we are with the studio. We were impressed by what we saw, and knew it deserved a theatrical release. 'Moana' remains an incredibly popular franchise. We can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when 'Moana 2' comes to theaters this November.
'Moana 2,' proof that Disney is committed to nostalgia
This is not the only movie that the company announced. It also shared a preview of "The Mandalorian" movie, the first "Star Wars" feature film to hit the big screen since 2019. The movie, which will be released in 2026, will wrap up the Disney+ series starring Pedro Pascal.
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU will be the first new Star Wars movie to hit theaters in 7 years pic.twitter.com/fWCWAJKhwD
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) February 8, 2024
This is part of the company's new strategy. Iger announced this Wednesday that it will focus on nostalgia to try to recover part of its lost glory: "Disney is leaning a little bit more into sequels and franchises."
Marvel Studios, which has also resumed its production, "is starting to focus on some of its stronger franchises going forward." Iger explained that Captain America 4: Brave New World and Fantastic 4 will be released in 2025.
