Disney has made significant changes to Moana 2 ahead of its 2024 release, taking a big risk that they hope will pay off. The first Moana movie in 2016 was a huge hit, so it's no surprise that they want to continue the story of Motunui's hero. However, there seems to be some uncertainty from the House of Mouse on how to proceed, which raises some concerns about the future of Moana 2.
Moana is among Disney's most successful princess movies, bringing in around $687 million globally in 2016. It has also become the most streamed movie on Disney+, making it a great foundation for future projects. Building on this success, Disney has announced both a live-action remake of Moana set for 2025 and a sequel, Moana 2, scheduled for 2024. While this news is exciting, the upcoming animated movie was not Disney's original plan, and they have taken a big risk by changing course at the last minute.
Moana 2 Was Initially Developed As A Disney+ Series
Moana featuring Moana smiling and Moana and Maui navigating the ocean under the stars - Moana 2 Was Initially Developed As A Disney+ Series
Custom Image by Kate Bove
The announcement of Moana 2 by Disney came as a surprise, especially after it was revealed in 2020 that Moana's story would continue in a TV series on Disney+. Disney CEO Bob Iger clarified that the upcoming movie and the TV series are essentially the same. However, upon viewing some episodes of the Moana show, he and other executives thought it would be more fitting as a movie.
We were impressed with what we saw, and we knew it deserved a theatrical release. The original Moana film from 2016 recently crossed 1 billion hours streamed on Disney+ and was the most-streamed movie of 2023 on any platform in the U.S.
The fact that Moana has done so well on Disney+ seems to have inspired Iger and the other execs to invest more into the sequel than they had initially planned, and this is hopefully a good thing. It can be assumed that the story and concept for the Moana show must have been something great if Disney was willing to change gears so last minute and announce a theatrical release for the very same year. However, this is a sizeable risk, no matter how you look at it.
Moana 2 was announced in February 2024, only nine months before its planned November 27 release date.
Why Disney's Last-Minute Style Change Is A Huge Risk For 2024
Moana, Maui and the characters of Moana - Why Disney's Last-Minute Style Change Is A Huge Risk For 2024
The Moana 2 TV show has already cost Disney a significant amount of money to produce. Initially, stars Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho were not expected to reprise their roles for the Disney+ series. However, now that it is being turned into a movie, Disney has to pay both the previous voice actors and the returning movie cast. Moreover, since TV shows and movies have different storytelling styles, much of the existing content will need to be reworked to fit the new format.
Disney will be funding two separate projects - the Disney+ series and the Moana 2 movie. This means a larger amount of money will need to be earned back at the box office. Bob Iger is optimistic that Moana's previous success suggests this will happen, but the success of the sequel will ultimately depend on the quality of the story. If Disney executives truly believe that the story seen in the series episodes will translate well to a movie, then things should go smoothly. However, if Moana 2 is being rushed into a different format solely for profit, the risk may not be worth it.
Editor's P/S:
The decision by Disney to scrap its initial plans for a Moana TV series and instead release a sequel film in 2024 is a bold move that carries both potential rewards and risks. While the success of the original Moana movie and its strong performance on Disney+ suggest that there is a market for a sequel, the last-minute change raises concerns about the quality and execution of the project. The additional costs of reworking the series into a movie and securing the return of the original voice cast could potentially weigh on the film's profitability. Ultimately, the success of Moana 2 will depend on whether the story and characters resonate with audiences as much as the original did.
It is also important to consider the impact this change may have on the creative team behind Moana 2. The original plan to release a TV series on Disney+ would have allowed for a more in-depth exploration of Moana's world and characters. The switch to a theatrical release may limit the scope and storytelling potential of the project. It is crucial that Disney provides the creative team with the time and resources they need to deliver a high-quality film that meets the expectations of fans and critics alike.
