Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is expected to score a major hit with Disney’s animated film Moana 2, which could set new records upon release. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie is tracking for a substantial $125 million to $135 million opening over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday week. Originally conceived as a television series, Moana 2 was later developed into a feature film.
The original Moana also premiered on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, earning $82.1 million in its five-day domestic debut, including $56 million over the traditional three-day weekend. It went on to gross over $687 million worldwide.
Moana 2 will be released in the United States on November 27, 2024. Johnson is also involved in a live-action adaptation of Moana, currently in production and scheduled for a July 2026 release.
The sequel is directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, with production led by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino. The film stars Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as Moana and Maui, along with returning cast members Rachel House (Moana’s grandmother, Tala), Temuera Morrison (Moana’s father, Chief Tui), and Nicole Scherzinger (Moana’s mother, Sina). New characters will be voiced by Hual?lai Chung, David Fane, and Rose Matafeo, playing Moni, Kele, and Loto.