Disney re-tooling Moana TV show Moana 2 November

Disney announced a sequel to Moana, originally a TV show, now a film. Not to be confused with the live-action remake.

Disney surprised fans this week by announcing a sequel to its 2016 animated hit Moana. But the twist is that the sequel is actually a redeveloped version of a previously scheduled Moana TV show, now turned into a movie and called Moana 2. This quick turnaround from TV show to movie is part of Disney's strategy to fill the gap in its film release schedule. The movie is set to be released in November, a swift move for what was initially planned as a TV show sequel.

CEO Bob Iger revealed this news, signaling a potential shift away from the trend of streaming TV shows dominating the industry. The original Moana film was a box office success, raking in $682 million, while Disney's recent animated feature Wish only made $244 million. This decision to turn the TV show into a movie could be a move to capitalize on the success of the original film.

It's worth noting that Disney already had a separate Moana film project in the works, a live-action remake set to be released in 2025, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. It's unclear if Johnson will also be part of the new animated sequel, leaving fans curious about the direction of the film.

Moana 2 is scheduled for a Thanksgiving release, a traditional spot for Disney animated films. However, recent releases in that time slot, such as Wish and Encanto, have struggled at the box office. This could explain Disney's decision to revisit the Moana franchise in hopes of securing a holiday hit.

Overall, Disney's announcement of Moana 2 as a redeveloped TV show turned movie has generated excitement and curiosity among fans, as the studio looks to replicate the success of the original film.