Deadline has confirmed that Auli’i Cravalho will once again voice Moana in Moana 2, the sequel to the animated blockbuster that took the world by storm when it was released in 2016. After Walt Disney Animation Studios made the unexpected announcement that they were turning their upcoming Moana television series meant for Disney+ into a theatrical release, Cravalho hadn’t been confirmed as the voice behind the role in the sequel. The actress won’t be the only cast member from the first movie to return, with Dwayne Johnson confirmed to reprise his role as Maui, demigod of the wind and sea.

Moana 2 was recently announced by Disney, after the story was originally conceived as television series meant to be released on Disney+ at some point in the near future. However, the company made the surprise announcement earlier this month, stating that David G. Derrick Jr. will both write and direct the sequel, which is currently slated to premiere in theaters on November 27. The premise of the upcoming film will follow the titular character as she receives a call from her way finding ancestors, taking her to the distant waters of Oceania in another musical tale. Hopefully, the young warrior will be ready to face what destiny has in store for her.

While the popular songs from Moana were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina, the Hamilton star won’t be coming back for the sequel. Foa’i and Mancina will work alongside Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear this time around, creating the melodies that will accompany Moana throughout her new adventure. After the first movie earned around $687 million at the worldwide box office and gained a huge amount of views on Disney+, Moana became a priority for Disney, with the company thinking of new ways to expand the character’s world and story.

Auli’i Cravalho’s Future in Motunui

Besides working on how Moana 2 will continue the titular character’s journey, Disney is also developing a live-action adaptation of the first movie, with Dwayne Johnson also playing Maui in that project. However, Auli’i Cravalho won’t reprise her role as Moana in the live-action adaptation, opting for a role as an executive producer on the movie instead. But even if she won’t be seen on the screen when it’s time to portray Moana’s journey in a live-action setting, audiences will get to hear Cravalho voicing the character once again when Moana 2 hits theaters later this year. The live-action iteration of Moana is currently scheduled to swim towards multiplexes on June 27, 2025, but it’s expected to be delayed due to the release of Moana 2.

Moana 2 hits theaters on November 27, 2024. The first movie is available to stream now on Disney+. Check out the first look at the film below:

via Collider