Dwayne Johnson has officially confirmed that a third animated Moana film is in development, sending waves of excitement through the Disney fandom. The announcement came during a press conference in Brazil, where Johnson was promoting the upcoming live-action Moana movie. While the live-action remake has been the focus for years, Johnson revealed that the animated franchise is far from over.
“Yes, we have talked about Moana 3,” Johnson said. “But first, live-action Moana. We’ll let that come out first. We have the amazing Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, who have been our writers, they will pen Moana 3.” No release date or production timeline has been announced yet, but the confirmation marks a major milestone for the beloved franchise.
The news comes a decade after the original Moana hit theaters and following the massive success of the 2024 sequel, which sailed past $1 billion at the global box office. The live-action film, directed by Thomas Kail, is expected to be one of the biggest releases of the year, with Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui. Catherine Laga’aia stars as Moana, alongside John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, and Jermaine Clement as Tamatoa.
Johnson’s career has taken some interesting turns recently. After chasing Oscar buzz with the A24 drama The Smashing Machine, he returns to his blockbuster roots with the live-action Moana. Despite being one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, Johnson has only appeared in one DC film (Black Adam) and no Marvel movies. The live-action Moana could further cement his status as a box office powerhouse.
The live-action Moana will debut exclusively in theaters on July 10 before eventually streaming on Disney Plus. It will remain in theaters for at least the first two months, meaning a streaming release likely won't happen until later in the year. Fans eager to see the oceanic adventure on the big screen should mark their calendars.
While the live-action film takes center stage, the confirmation of Moana 3 ensures that the animated franchise will continue to explore new horizons. With the original writers returning, the third installment promises to stay true to the spirit of the first two films. For now, all eyes are on the live-action remake, but the future of Moana looks brighter than ever.
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