When the first trailers for the Moana sequel started dropping, the internet had one collective question: where is the fast-talking, internal-rhyme-heavy musical genius we all expected? It’s a fair thing to ask. Honestly, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s DNA was so woven into the first film's identity that a sequel without him feels a bit like a burger without the bun.
So, let's get the big answer out of the way immediately. No, Lin-Manuel Miranda did not work on Moana 2.
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He wasn't in the writer's room. He wasn't at the piano. He didn't pen the lyrics for Maui's latest boast or Moana's next "I want" song. While his influence is certainly felt—mostly because the first movie's soundtrack is still on a loop in every household with a toddler—he had zero creative involvement in this second voyage.
The Mystery of the Missing Composer
Why would Disney let their golden boy walk away from a billion-dollar franchise? It wasn't some dramatic falling out or a creative "creative differences" PR disaster. It was basically a scheduling traffic jam.
Around the time Moana 2 was getting its legs, Lin-Manuel was already deep in the weeds with another massive Disney project: Mufasa: The Lion King.
You have to remember that Moana 2 didn't even start as a movie. It was originally being developed as a long-form Disney+ series. While Disney was busy mapping out a TV show, Miranda was already committed to writing the music for Barry Jenkins' prequel to The Lion King. By the time Bob Iger looked at the Moana footage and realized, "Wait, this is actually a theatrical movie," the musical team was already set.
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"There was never an opportunity to be on Moana 2," Miranda recently told People at a red carpet event. He’s been pretty vocal about the fact that the production already had their songwriters "cooking" by the time he could have even looked at a script.
Who Took Over the Oars?
When you lose a Pulitzer Prize winner, you don't just hire a random person with a GarageBand subscription. Disney went with a fascinating duo: Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear.
You might know them as "Barlow & Bear." They basically became the first people to ever turn a TikTok trend into a Grammy. They're the minds behind The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, and they brought a very different, very youthful energy to the Wayfinder's world.
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- Abigail Barlow: Focuses heavily on the lyrics and the pop-sensibility of the hooks.
- Emily Bear: A literal musical prodigy who was mentored by Quincy Jones.
They didn't work alone, though. To keep the vibe consistent with the 2016 original, Disney brought back the anchors of the first film's sound: Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina.
Foa'i is the soul of these movies. His work with his band Te Vaka provides the authentic Pacific Islander rhythms and languages that make Moana feel real. Mancina, on the other hand, is a Disney veteran who understands the "big" cinematic score. So, while Lin-Manuel was gone, the foundation of the sound remained relatively intact.
The Sound of Change
Does the music feel different? Yeah, it kinda does.
Miranda’s style is very specific. He loves a syncopated rap section and complex, layered "ensemble" numbers where everyone is singing different lines at once (think "Non-Stop" or "96,000"). Barlow and Bear lean more into the "theatrical pop" world. It's glossy. It's catchy. It's very 2026.
Critics have been a bit split. Some miss the lyrical gymnastics of "You're Welcome." Others find the new songs, like "Beyond," to be a more emotional, grounded evolution for an older Moana.
Actually, there’s one tiny piece of Lin-Manuel still in the movie. The song "We Know the Way" is reused in the sequel, and since he co-wrote that for the first film, his name still technically appears in the credits for that specific track. But that’s more of a legacy credit than a new contribution.
Was it the Right Move?
Some fans are pretty salty about the change. If you head over to Reddit or X, you'll see people complaining that the new songs "don't hit the same." But honestly, music is subjective. Barlow and Bear had an impossible task—following up one of the most successful soundtracks of the 21st century.
Lin-Manuel seems totally fine with it. He’s been cheering them on from the sidelines, calling them "insanely talented." And let's be real, the guy is busy. Between live-action remakes, directing his own films, and writing for the Pride Lands, he’s probably okay with letting someone else handle the "Chee-hoo!" for a while.
What to Listen For in Moana 2:
- "Beyond": The big emotional centerpiece that replaces "How Far I'll Go."
- "Can I Get a Chee Hoo?": Maui’s new high-energy track (Dwayne Johnson still brings the charisma).
- The Te Vaka influence: Still the best part of the movie, honestly.
If you’re heading into the theater expecting a Hamilton-on-the-high-seas vibe, you might be disappointed. But if you're looking for a fresh take on the Pacific, the new team holds their own. Just don't go looking for Lin-Manuel in the "Special Thanks" section expecting he secretly ghostwrote a bridge or two. He didn't.
Your next move? Give the Moana 2 soundtrack a spin on Spotify before you see the movie. It'll help you get used to the new "voice" of the islands so you aren't distracted by the lack of Miranda's signature fast-paced lyrics when the lights go down.