Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
After facing several setbacks and losses, Disney is willing to go as far back as ancient Polynesia in order to redeem itself. In a surprise and shocking announcement, Disney announced that for this year’s Thanksgiving, its toon feature will be an animated sequel to its previous blockbuster,Moana 2.
Despite the fact that a live-action version of the original classic is already in development, featuring Dwayne Johnson,Moana 2will be an independent story taking the Disney princess on yet another Oceania adventure. However, many fans of the animated classic were left disappointed when revealed that Lin-Manuel Miranda would not be returning for the sequel.
Disney Announces Sequel to Its Hit Animated Film,Moana
In a surprise announcement toCNBC, Disney Boss Bob Iger revealed that the studio will be releasing a surprise sequel to the 2016 filmMoanaon this year’s Thanksgiving. Originally slated to be a series, the feature was turned into a movie following the results of Nielsen’s year-end rankings (viaTHR). According to the rankings,Moanawas the most streamed film in 2023 at 11.6 billion minutes of viewing.
“Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise and we can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when Moana 2 comes to theaters this November.”
Stated Iger despite a live-action version starringDwayne Johnsonalready in the works. Although there is no word whether the movie will feature Johnson as Maui the demigod or ifAuli’i Cravalhowill reprise her role of Moana, they are expected to return.
But what really hurt the feelings of the fans was the absence ofLin-Manuel Mirandafrom the sequel, despite him penning the Oscar-nominated songHow Far I’ll Gofor the 2016 movie. A Pulitzer Prize and Grammy-winning artist, Miranda is one of the most celebrated artists, well-known among Disney fans for his works. And so not having him in the sequel might turn out to be a major bane for the studio.
“It hasn’t been even a decade”: Dwayne Johnson Still Can’t Score a Win as Fans Unhappy With His Moana Update for Disney
Fans Disappointed ThatLin-Manuel Miranda Will Not be Returning ForMoana 2
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a five-time Grammy-winning artist, who has written award-winning hits for Disney previously. However, it is his song forMoana,How Far I’ll Go,that has become a true fan-favorite over the years with millions of streams on platforms like Spotify (viaThe Scotsman). Even onYouTube, the song has over 1.2 billion views and counting.
“There’s a certain type of humor to this”: Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Moana’ Helped Taika Waititi Make $865M Marvel Movie After Director Lost His Passport
Thanks to its inspirational lyrics and catchy tone, the song by theHamiltonsongwriter has been a game changer for the Disney movie (seeuDiscoverMusic). And so to not have Miranda featuring on the sequel or participating in co-writing songs, fans have been calling it a majorRed Flag.
Oh man. That’s a red flag if I’ve ever seen one.
— AaronShack64TV (@aaronshack64TV)July 01, 2025
Making a Moana sequel without Lin-Manuel Miranda?https://t.co/4EdBiOktiapic.twitter.com/SNORHzALsM
— Tess Fabeck ✌🏻 (@tkfabeck)June 09, 2025
I was on board with a sequel for a whole 2 hours.pic.twitter.com/d7RDoMf5ed
— Philly (@MonsieurPhilly)June 17, 2025
https://twitter.com/postbusters2k16/status/1755410494091911233
Me dragging Lin-Manuel Miranda back to the studio for Moana 2pic.twitter.com/xEqrzfckkv
— 🤪 (@nicknameblue)June 22, 2025
This is a mistake. Moana has one the best Disney soundtracks and Lin-Manuel is a big reason why.https://t.co/tN1QhlcebA
— Munir Abedrabbo Campana (@maac027)July 01, 2025
WhileMoana 2not featuringLin-Manuel Miranda is a big disappointment for the fans, it would be worth waiting and watching how the movie turns out, given the surprising reactions of the fans. Since Disney movies have so far failed to hit the spot sinceMoana(seeVariety), it would be a feat to see ifMoana 2lives up to its prequel’s success or ends up as yet another failed initiative.
Moana 2will be in theatres on June 27, 2025, while the live-action is expected to be released on June 08, 2025.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
