Yahoo Lifestyle ‘Moana 2′ Sets Disney+ Streaming Release Date
“Moana 2,” the sequel to the Oscar-nominated film about a young Polynesian woman on a quest to break an ancient curse, will be available to stream on Disney+ on March 12.
Initially developed as a Disney+ TV series for streaming, “Moana 2” was revamped into a film with a theatrical release. The adjustment was said to be a strategic decision on the part of Disney to maximize revenue and profitability. It paid off because “Moana 2” made more than $1 billion at the box office and became the third highest-grossing movie of 2024.
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The movie “reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a 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.”
“Moana 2” was directed by the trio of David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller — with each making their directorial debut on this project. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote and composed the music for the original film, was replaced by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear in the sequel.
Auli’i Cravalho returned to voice Moana with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson coming back as shapeshifting oceanic trickster Maui. The cast also included Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, David Fane, Hualālai Chung and Rose Matafeo,
Variety‘s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman said that the film’s titular character and protagonist Moana “doesn’t have much inner journey left, but the movie has vibrant monsters and a flow of movement that keeps your eyeballs dancing.”
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