The newest Disney movie, Moana, is sure to leave you wanting more, if not just humming the songs. But will there be a Moana sequel? I'd certainly hope so, as the Polynesian island adventure is definitely worth revisiting. There's no official word from Disney yet, but it seems pretty likely, if you ask me. Most Pixar and Disney animated films tend to get at least one sequel. Heck, if The Incredibles can get a sequel after all these years, I don't think it would take much convincing to get a Moana 2 going.
Fans might just be waiting for a while. Frozen 2 has been announced, even though there isn't a release date yet. Disney movies take a long time to develop and animate, so it would probably be several years before Moana returns to the big screen. If a sequel does happen, though, the mythology presented in the fictional world of Moana is rife for more stories. Plus, with a creative team that includes Ron Clements (who wrote Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and The Princess and the Frog) as well as both indie filmmaker Taika Waititi and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Moana is almost guaranteed to be popular enough to warrant a follow-up. A Moana sequel is a pretty safe bet. Here are a few other reasons why it could happen;
Disney's Schedule Has The Room
I know that Disney franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which both have films planned through 2019, make it seem like everything has already been set in stone for the studio. However, while Disney has blocked out several release dates for upcoming animated films, not all of them have names yet. The dates are just placeholders, and the next untitled animated feature is slated for November 2020, according to Deadline. That's two Olympics and a US presidential election away. There's definitely plenty of wiggle room for Moana 2 to fit in.
Lin-Manuel Miranda's Disney Contract Is No Joke
I don't know if this is common knowledge, but the Hamilton creator is kind of a busy guy — and a lot of his past and upcoming projects are with Disney. He wrote a song for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is set to star in Mary Poppins Returns, and is working on a top secret Disney animated film as well. The studio clearly has his contact info, so a Moana sequel with Miranda involved is more than possible.
Moana Could Return As A Short
While we wait for Moana 2, it's definitely possible that the characters will return in a Disney short, like Frozen Fever and Tangled Ever After. While it's not quite the same as a sequel, a Moana short would definitely tide fans over (get it) between feature films. Hopefully there will be plenty more in the years to come.
Fingers crossed for more Moana to come our way.
Images: Giphy (3)
