Disney is preparing to sail back to Motunui once again as Moana 3 is already being discussed inside the company, according to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The news comes as Disney finds itself in a fascinating position with one of its biggest modern animated franchises. While Moana has become one of the studio’s strongest brands, questions are beginning to emerge over whether Disney may be moving too aggressively with the property.
Johnson, who voices the demigod Maui in the animated films and reprises the role in the upcoming live-action remake, revealed during a press event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that conversations about another animated sequel have already happened.
“Yes, we have talked about Moana 3, yes,” Johnson said, according to Variety. “But first, live-action Moana, we’ll let that come out first. We have [the] amazing Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, who have been our writers … they will pen Moana 3.”
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Disney has not officially dated Moana 3 or announced when production will begin, but Johnson’s comments make it clear that the company sees the franchise as a major part of its future.
Disney Sees Moana As One of Its Biggest Modern Franchises
It is easy to understand why Disney wants more Moana.
The original animated film arrived in 2016 and grossed roughly $680 million worldwide. While that was already a strong theatrical performance, the movie’s popularity exploded even further after its arrival on Disney+, where it became one of the company’s most consistently watched streaming titles.
That success eventually led Disney back to the ocean.
Moana in Moana (2016), Walt Disney Studios
However, the path to Moana 2 was not exactly traditional. The sequel was originally developed as a streaming series for Disney+ before the company changed course and converted the project into a theatrical release.
Financially, the decision proved to be the right one.
Moana 2 opened to massive numbers over Thanksgiving 2024 and ultimately crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, finishing with approximately $1.059 billion globally.
For a company that has struggled with several theatrical disappointments in recent years, Moana 2 was a reminder that audiences will still show up for Disney animation when there is enough excitement around the property.
Moana 2’s Box Office Success Came With Creative Criticism
However, the billion-dollar box office total does not tell the entire story.
While audiences turned out for Moana 2, the sequel faced a noticeably more divided response compared to the beloved original film. Many viewers criticized the follow-up for failing to reach the same creative heights, with complaints aimed at the story, pacing, and music.
One major point of discussion was the film’s development history.
Moana in Moana (2016), Walt Disney Studios
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Because Moana 2 began as a Disney+ series before being reshaped into a theatrical film, some critics argued that the final product still carried the structure of a streaming project rather than a fully planned theatrical sequel.
The movie still became a massive financial victory for Disney, but the reaction showed that even a popular brand like Moana is not immune from audience criticism.
Disney’s Live-Action Moana Faces a Much Different Conversation
Before Moana 3 arrives, Disney has another major test ahead: convincing audiences they need a live-action version of a movie that is only about a decade old.
The upcoming remake brings Johnson back as Maui, while Catherine Lagaʻaia takes over the title role of Moana. The film is directed by Thomas Kail, best known for his work on Hamilton.
But unlike the excitement surrounding Moana 2’s theatrical release, the live-action remake has faced a much colder response from portions of the audience.
The like to dislike ratio for the second Moana trailer as of June 7, 2026 – YouTube, Disney
The trailers have been heavily ratioed online, with dislikes significantly outpacing likes across multiple uploads. Many fans have questioned why Disney is remaking one of its newest animated hits instead of focusing on original stories or allowing the animated version to stand on its own.
The box office conversation has also raised eyebrows.
Despite Moana 2 crossing $1 billion worldwide, early tracking for the live-action Moana remake has reportedly pointed toward a disastrous opening of around $60 million domestically.
Could Disney Create Moana Fatigue Before Moana 3 Arrives?
That leaves Disney facing an interesting question.
Is the company building its next major franchise pillar, or is it risking overexposure?
In just a short period of time, audiences will have received the original Moana, Moana 2, the live-action remake, and now potentially Moana 3. The animated franchise has clearly connected with families, but Hollywood history has repeatedly shown that even successful brands can lose momentum when studios push too much content too quickly.
Te Fiti and Moana in Moana (2016), Walt Disney Studios
Disney is betting that audiences are ready for more adventures with Moana and Maui.
The box office success of Moana 2 suggests there is plenty of love remaining for the characters, but the mixed creative reception to the sequel and the divisive reaction to the live-action remake suggest the studio may still have some obstacles ahead.
The biggest challenge for Moana 3 might not be reminding people why they loved Moana in the first place.
It might be convincing them that they need another voyage.
What do you think? Are you excited for Moana 3, or is Disney risking franchise fatigue? Let us know.
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