Just when we thought this year’s CinemaCon could not be any grander, The Rock appeared on stage. Dwayne Johnson provided a sneak peek into Disney’s Moana’s sequel, Moana 2. On April 11, at the event held in Las Vegas, the voice behind the demigod Maui entered the list of Disney’s cast for its highly anticipated titles. The 51-year-old actor and wrestler entered the stage with a constant grin on his face.
The Rock said that the Moana franchise has been a completely new and life-changing experience for him. He also promised the audience that all the songs in Moana 2 would be new. The film will be released in November of this year.
The members of The National Association of Theatre Owners awarded Johnson a Spirit of the Industry Prize. After that, he presented the first-look footage for Moana 2.
Auli’i Cravalho will also reprise her role as Moana, the daughter of the chief of a Polynesian village. In the exclusive footage, Cravalho can be heard singing a pleasant song when Moana returns to her island. However, it seems like a new adventure is waiting for the strong-willed titular character.
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Dwayne Johnson, who enjoyed himself during the mini-performance from Polynesian dancers, said that he is emotionally invested in the franchise. He stated that the character represents his roots and his culture.
Dwayne Johnson performs as a part of a Polynesian dance while presenting #Moana2 at #CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/s8EHi7lieR
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 11, 2024
The Rock said,
It’s so much deeper than a movie to me and I know it’s deeper for Disney, too,
The first installment of the franchise was a box-office success. Ron Clements and John Musker directed the movie, which received two Oscar nominations. The film was a strong contender for best animated feature and was also nominated in the best original song category for “How Far I’ll Go.”
Interestingly, another live-action film of the same name is under production at Disney. It stars Dwayne Johnson and has been postponed for release. The movie was slated to release on June 27, 2025, but it has been pushed to July 10, 2026.
