Two huge properties received announcements yesterday from competing studios. What is being missed by so many are the financial reasons for the redo’s.
Since 2021 I have been telling people that a Moana movie was coming. I knew this based on a high-level source who was letting me know inner workings at Disney. And yes, it took the company a year longer than I had expected, likely because of a switch in strategy from CGI sequel to live action adaptation, but it’s finally here. I also think the delay had something to do with the turmoil that has taken place at the company over the last twelve months. Here’s my original statement regarding this then rumor:
A source that I have spoken with several times, with a high accuracy, has relayed to me that Disney may be ready to speed up a Moana sequel announcement in order to allay concerns that they’re running out of steam at theaters and on televisions. I’m told that Disney is likely to announce a new Moana in the first half of 2022.
— WDW Pro, November 2021
And here’s the official announcement:
Disney’s animated hit movie Moana is getting a live-action remake, the company announced Monday.
The new version of the 2016 movie is under development, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who played the character Maui, said in a video.
“It’s still very early in the process,” he said. “There’s so much more work to be done.”
— NPR.com
One thing that isn’t totally clear is if the lead actress and voice talent behind Moana will play the live action role of the titular character. She’s only 22 years old, so conceivably she could play Moana in both the animated and live action versions. Just like Dwayne Johnson playing Maui in both, these would be firsts. And it also speaks as to why Disney is moving so quickly into a Moana live action movie. Although there has been criticism that it is “too soon,” it ignores that there is a timeframe in which the same voice actors can play the real roles… and it ignores that Disney needs a hit. Moana is a hit. Your criticisms can go suck on an egg for all Disney cares when it comes to trying desperately to find a movie that will get them back at the top of the box office.
Now let’s go to Harry Potter, where it was December that I said the infamous franchise was being rebooted along with new actors:
And boom, what do we have on the exact same day? A reboot confirmed now.
Only a little over a decade after the release of the last Harry Potter movie, it seems that it’s time to tell the boy wizard’s story once again. HBO is closing in on a deal to reboot J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series as a new TV show, reports Lucas Shaw at Bloomberg.
— Polygon
And again, there’s plenty of howling about how this is “too soon,” it shouldn’t feature JK Rowling as a producer, etc. Well guess what? The market doesn’t care. It wants more Harry Potter, it clearly doesn’t care if JK Rowling is involved because it clearly didn’t care when Hogwarts Legacy just became a top-ten selling video game of all time… even without all the consoles yet getting a release.
Two huge scoops, one single day. And both of them driven totally by the economics of two separate companies looking for wins where they have had struggles in the recent past.
Explaining entertainment, keeping you ahead of the culture curve… it’s easier to do when you have fantastic sources and you understand the financial issues of Hollywood.
For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. As always, drop a comment down below and let us know your thoughts!
“And yes, it took the company a year longer than I had expected, likely because of a switch in strategy from CGI sequel to live action adaptation”
why would that make it much longer and why change to live action ?
” I also think the delay had something to do with the turmoil that has taken place at the company over the last twelve months”
Iger was able to announce sequels to toy story 4, zootopia and frzen earlier this year why wait?
“it ignores that Disney needs a hit. Moana is a hit. Your criticisms can go suck on an egg for all Disney cares when it comes to trying desperately to find a movie that will get them back at the top of the box office.”
yes disney needs a hit but they announced sequels to frozen 2, toy story 4, and zootopia all sequelsto films that were hits why not just announce a moana 2 instead of doing a remake. The remake is more likely happening because black adam didnt work out so well for the rock so he needs a reliable hit again so makes a remake to a beloved animated movie. Weird u didnt consider that. I question how reliable you really are.
“The market doesn’t care. It wants more Harry Potter”
then do spinoffs the films are fine as they are and can just watch it
Fred, I totally agree the original HP films are great, and apparently so does WB, because I think they’re talking about making a TV/streaming version of the books, rather than remaking the movies right! Frankly I’m just shocked it took them so long. There’s so much good content in Rowling’s books.
Pro, on another note, any updates on the war to save Splash Mountain at Disneyland?
Splash Mountain in Disneyland will be demolished and changed to the bayou.