Now that Moana 2 has arrived as a lackluster disappointment, there’s a lot less pressure on Moana’s live-action remake, because the winning streak has been broken. After missing it in theaters, I finally caught up with Moana 2 on Disney+ recently, and I agree with all the common criticisms. Retooling the Moana streaming show as a sequel movie resulted in a very disjointed story. Moana 2’s songs are nowhere near as catchy as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical numbers from the original film. Moana was an airтιԍнт, near-flawless movie; Moana 2 is comparable to one of those old direct-to-video Disney sequels.
But being let down by Moana 2 has actually made me slightly more optimistic for Moana’s upcoming live-action remake. Set to be released on July 10, 2026, less than 10 years after the original film hit theaters, the Moana remake will retell the original story, with the live-action format bringing the harshness of the open water to life. Catherine Lagaʻaia will make her movie debut as Moana and Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as Maui. Like a lot of people, I was initially skeptical about the Moana remake. But the underwhelming Moana sequel has warmed me to the idea.
I Feel Like There’s Less Pressure On Moana’s Remake After Moana 2
The Moana Franchise Is Officially Hit-And-Miss
Now that the Moana franchise has delivered a disappointing movie, it’s officially hit-and-miss. When the live-action remake of Moana was first announced, it was a perfect movie at risk of having its legacy tarnished. But now, that legacy has already been tarnished by a mediocre sequel, and it wasn’t the end of the world. Moana 2 certainly isn’t a bad movie — it’s very entertaining, and it has some moving emotional beats — but it’s nowhere near the masterpiece that its predecessor was. So, there’s less pressure on the live-action remake to maintain quality that’s already taken a nosedive.
Expectations for the live-action Moana remake were already pretty low, given that the original is so recent and Disney’s track record of live-action remakes has been spotty since the beginning.
Expectations for the live-action Moana remake were already pretty low, given that the original is so recent and Disney’s track record of live-action remakes has been spotty since the beginning. But now, it’s not like the animated side of things is some pristine, untouchable work of art; there lies mediocrity, too. Even if the live-action remake ends up not being very good, it won’t hit as hard, because the disappointment seal has already been broken. If anything, Moana 2’s mixed reception has given the live-action movie the freedom to fail.
I Really Hope Moana’s Live-Action Remake Has New Lin-Manuel Miranda Songs
A New Banger From Miranda Would Go A Long Way
After skipping out on Moana 2 due to his commitments to Mufasa: The Lion King, Lin-Manuel Miranda is returning to work on the songs for Moana’s live-action remake. There’s a decent chance that Miranda will write a new song (or more) for the remake, because it seems unlikely that Disney would bring him back just to remix his earlier work. This would be just what the remake needs to stand out from the original.
Lin-Manuel Miranda was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “How Far I’ll Go.”
A new song from the mind behind “You’re Welcome” and “How Far I’ll Go” would give Moana’s remake a huge advantage over the sequel. Moana 2’s forgettable songs were the most disappointing part of the sequel, and that can be attributed to Miranda’s absence from the soundtrack. If Moana’s remake delivers a new Miranda banger, it’ll go a long way.
The Moana Live-Action Remake Can Deliver More Of Maui
Maui’s Role In Moana 2 Was A Let-Down
Maui’s role in Moana 2 was a bit of a let-down, because he didn’t play a major role in the story until halfway through it. Since he was a fan-favorite character in the first movie and that story already set up his friendship with Moana, it would make sense to have Maui play a prominent role in the sequel from beginning to end. But Moana 2 wasn’t developed as a typical sequel. It began its life as a TV show, and it’s unlikely that Johnson — one of the biggest movie stars in the world — would’ve committed to a TV show.
In the development of the original streaming show, Maui was likely being saved for a role in the later episodes, so his role in the resultant movie was limited. It seems like we’ll be getting a lot more Maui in the live-action Moana remake. The Rock is reprising his role, and Disney will surely want to capitalize on that. Plus, it’s following the story of the first movie, which had plenty of Maui. So, the live-action redo of Moana could be just what Maui fans are looking for after his reduced role in Moana 2.
Moana
- Created by
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John Musker, Ron Clements, Jared Bush
- First Film
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Moana
- Latest Film
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Moana
- Upcoming Films
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Moana 2
- Cast
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Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel House, Alan Tudyk
Summary
The Moana franchise began with the 2016 animated film, which became a major success for Disney. The story follows Moana Waialiki, the daughter of a Polynesian chief, as she embarks on an oceanic journey to save her people with the help of the demigod Maui. The film is celebrated for its vibrant animation, engaging characters, and its deep respect for Polynesian culture. The franchise has since expanded with an upcoming sequel and a live-action adaptation in the works, making it one of Disney’s prominent modern franchises.
