Phoenix 24
Disney may continue its most successful modern voyage.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — July 2026.
Dwayne Johnson has revealed that Disney’s creative team has already discussed a third animated Moana film, indicating that the company intends to continue expanding one of its most valuable modern franchises. The actor addressed the possibility during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro while promoting Disney’s forthcoming live-action adaptation of the original story. Johnson confirmed that conversations about another animated installment had taken place, but he emphasized that the immediate priority remains the new theatrical production. His comments provide the clearest indication yet that the journeys of Moana and Maui could continue beyond the two animated films already released.
Johnson said screenwriters Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller are expected to participate in the possible third chapter. Bush wrote the screenplay for the original 2016 film and has remained closely involved with the development of the franchise, while Ledoux Miller contributed to its more recent productions. Their continued participation would provide narrative continuity as Disney considers how to extend the mythology, characters and Pacific Island settings established in the previous stories. However, the company has not yet announced a production schedule, director, voice cast or release date for Moana 3.
The actor’s language suggests that the project has moved beyond casual speculation, although it should not yet be interpreted as a complete formal announcement from Disney. Johnson stated that the filmmakers had discussed the sequel and spoke confidently about the writers who would develop it. Even so, major animated productions normally pass through several stages involving story development, internal approval, scheduling and budget decisions before entering full production. The success of the upcoming live-action adaptation may also influence how quickly Disney determines the next phase of the broader franchise.
Disney will release the live-action Moana in theaters on July 10, 2026, with Johnson portraying Maui in physical form after voicing the character in both animated films. Catherine Laga’aia takes over the title role, leading a cast that also includes John Tui, Frankie Adams and Rena Owen. The film is directed by Thomas Kail and features new musical contributions from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi and Mark Mancina. Auliʻi Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, participates as an executive producer rather than reprising the character on screen.
The original Moana premiered in 2016 and followed a young navigator who leaves her island to restore the heart of the goddess Te Fiti and protect her community. Its combination of ocean adventure, music, family identity and Pacific cultural inspiration helped transform the film into one of Disney’s most enduring contemporary properties. Johnson’s performance as the charismatic demigod Maui became central to the movie’s popularity, particularly through the song “You’re Welcome.” The film also introduced a heroine whose leadership emerged through navigation, responsibility and connection to ancestral knowledge rather than through a conventional romantic storyline.
Moana 2 arrived in theaters in 2024, eight years after the original production, and reunited Johnson with Cravalho and several returning cast members. The sequel expanded the fictional world beyond Motunui by sending Moana on a mission to locate other communities separated across the ocean. It had initially been developed as a streaming television series before Disney converted the material into a theatrical feature after evaluating its creative and commercial potential. That unusual transition demonstrated the company’s confidence in the franchise and created a foundation from which a third animated story could now develop.
A future sequel would need to determine how Moana’s responsibilities evolve after two stories centered on exploration, heritage and the restoration of connections among Pacific peoples. The filmmakers could expand the geographical scope of the series, introduce additional island societies or explore the consequences of Moana becoming an increasingly important leader and navigator. Maui’s relationship with the heroine would also require continued development without repeating the conflicts and emotional lessons already used in earlier installments. Maintaining cultural authenticity will remain essential because the franchise draws heavily from the traditions, histories and storytelling of Pacific Island communities.
Disney’s interest in another film also reflects a broader strategy of developing recognizable properties across animation, live-action cinema, streaming, merchandise and theme-park experiences. Moana offers the company a multigenerational audience, memorable music and characters capable of appearing in several entertainment formats. The planned third installment would likely coexist with the live-action adaptation rather than replace the animated series, allowing Disney to reach audiences through parallel interpretations of the same world. This approach resembles the studio’s continued investment in franchises whose characters retain popularity long after their original theatrical releases.
Johnson remains one of the franchise’s most influential participants because he serves as an actor, producer and public representative of the live-action adaptation. His connection to Samoan heritage has also shaped the personal significance he assigns to Maui and to the cultural world surrounding the character. By discussing Moana 3 before Disney has issued a complete announcement, he has generated substantial anticipation while carefully directing attention toward the film arriving first. The next voyage appears increasingly probable, but its final form will depend on Disney’s official approval and the story developed by its returning creative team.
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