So, you’re looking for the lowdown on when Moana 2 come out. Honestly, if you feel like you missed the boat, you aren't alone. Disney pulled a total fast one on us with this one. One minute we were hearing about a "Moana Disney+ series" being in the works, and the next, Bob Iger is on an earnings call basically saying, "Actually, it’s a full-blown movie now, and it’s coming out in a few months."
It was a wild pivot.
Moana 2 hit theaters on November 27, 2024. If you're reading this now, the movie has already had its big theatrical run. It dominated the Thanksgiving box office, which, let’s be real, is Disney’s favorite playground. But because of how fast the announcement happened—and the fact that there’s another Moana project coming soon—people are still getting the dates mixed up.
The Confusion Between the Sequel and the Remake
Here is the thing that trips everyone up. There isn't just one new Moana project. There are two.
First, you have the animated sequel, Moana 2, which is the one that released in late 2024. Then, you have the live-action Moana remake. This is the one where Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is actually going to be standing there in the flesh as Maui.
For a while, the live-action version was supposed to come out in 2025. But Disney realized that having an animated Moana and a live-action Moana release only a few months apart was probably going to confuse the heck out of everyone (and eat into their own profits). So, they pushed the live-action movie back.
The live-action Moana is currently scheduled to come out on July 10, 2026.
So, if you were looking for "the new Moana" and thought it was still coming, you might be thinking of the live-action version. Or, you're waiting for the animated sequel to land on streaming.
Why Did the Release Date Feel So Sudden?
Most Disney sequels are announced years in advance. We knew about Frozen 2 forever before it arrived. But Moana 2 was different.
Originally, Disney was developing a long-form musical series for Disney+. They had the scripts, the animation was moving, and it was meant to be an episodic adventure. But as the story grew, the executives realized it looked "too good" for just a streaming service. They saw the numbers from 2023 showing that the original Moana was the most-streamed movie of the year—billions of minutes watched.
They smelled a hit.
In February 2024, they officially announced they were "retooling" the series into a theatrical feature. That gave the animators and writers a massive crunch time to take episodic arcs and smash them into a cohesive 90-minute film.
Who came back for the sequel?
- Auli'i Cravalho: She returned as the voice of Moana. There was a moment of doubt where fans weren't sure if she'd sign on, especially since she isn't playing the role in the live-action version, but she came back to voice our favorite wayfinder.
- Dwayne Johnson: Obviously, you can't have Maui without The Rock. He’s back, "You're Welcome" and all.
- The Animals: Pua (the pig) and Heihei (the world's most stressed-out rooster) are both in the mix.
- New Faces: We finally meet Moana's little sister, Simea. Plus, a new crew of wayfinders including Moni, Loto, and the extremely grumpy Kele.
One big name missing? Lin-Manuel Miranda. He didn't return to write the songs for this one. Instead, the music was handled by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (the duo behind the Bridgerton Musical), alongside original contributors Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina.
What is Moana 2 actually about?
The story picks up three years after the first movie. Moana isn't just a girl who found a demigod anymore; she’s a full-on leader and wayfinder. She gets a "call" from her ancestors that sends her into the "lost waters" of Oceania.
Basically, there’s an ancient island called Motufetu that was hidden away by a jealous god named Nalo. Nalo used a magical storm to keep the islands separated because he didn't like people connecting and being all "voyage-y." Moana has to break that curse to bring the people of the ocean back together.
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It’s a bit higher stakes than the first one. She isn't just saving her own island; she’s trying to reconnect the entire world.
How to watch it right now
Since the theatrical window for the November 2024 release has closed, you’re probably looking for it on your TV.
Historically, Disney movies take about 60 to 90 days to move from the cinema to Disney+. Since it came out at the end of November, it usually lands on streaming by February or March of the following year.
- Check Disney+: This is the primary home for all things Moana.
- Digital Purchase: You can usually buy or rent it on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime, or Vudu about 45 days after the theatrical release.
- Physical Media: If you’re a collector, the Blu-ray and 4K versions typically drop around the same time as the streaming release.
What you should do next
If you've already seen the animated sequel and you're craving more, your best bet is to keep an eye out for news on the live-action remake.
Casting has already been confirmed for the lead role of Moana in the 2026 film—a young actress named Catherine Laga'aia will be taking over the mantle from Auli'i. Since we're heading into 2026, expect to see the first teaser trailers for that version starting in late 2025.
In the meantime, you can dive into the soundtrack for the sequel. Even without Lin-Manuel, songs like "We’re Back" and "Beyond" have that same oceanic energy that made the first movie such a massive earworm.
Just remember:
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- Moana 2 (Animated): Out now (released Nov 2024).
- Moana (Live-Action): Coming July 10, 2026.
If you are planning a Disney movie marathon, make sure you watch the 2016 original first, then the "Gone Fishing" and "Maui's Mythology" shorts on Disney+, before hitting the sequel to get the full timeline of her journey from a chief's daughter to a legendary wayfinder.