---
title: "A third Moana is reportedly in the works as the live-action remake nears release"
description: "Disney's 'Moana' has become one of the studio's most reliable hits, and the franchise shows no sign of slowing. Industry reports suggest a third animated film is in development — though Disney has not confirmed it — even as a live-action remake of the original arrives in cinemas this month."
category: "Culture"
category_url: https://newsparlor.com/category/culture
author: "Marcus Reed"
published: 2026-07-02T18:20:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-02T18:20:00.000Z
canonical: https://newsparlor.com/article/a-third-moana-is-reportedly-in-the-works-as-the-live-action-remake-nears-release
tags: ["disney", "moana", "animation", "film", "box-office"]
---
# A third Moana is reportedly in the works as the live-action remake nears release

Disney's 'Moana' has become one of the studio's most reliable hits, and the franchise shows no sign of slowing. Industry reports suggest a third animated film is in development — though Disney has not confirmed it — even as a live-action remake of the original arrives in cinemas this month.

Few of Disney's recent properties have proved as dependable as "Moana." The story of a young Pacific Islander wayfinder and the demigod Maui has grown from a single 2016 animated film into a billion-dollar franchise — and, if industry reports are right, it is not finished yet.

## A reported third film

Several entertainment-industry reports have suggested that Disney is developing a third animated "Moana" movie, continuing the story after the success of its predecessors. Those reports come from trade-watchers and insiders rather than from the studio itself: as of now, Disney has not officially confirmed a "Moana 3," and details such as a release date or plot remain speculative. Treated for what it is — an unconfirmed report rather than an announcement — it points to a franchise Disney has strong commercial reasons to keep going.

## Why Disney would want more

The commercial logic is hard to miss. "Moana 2," released in late 2024, was a genuine phenomenon, crossing $1 billion at the global box office, [according to Variety](https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/moana-2-1-billion-global-box-office-1236272527/) — a striking result for a project that had originally been conceived as a streaming series before being reworked into a theatrical feature. That performance built on the original film, itself a substantial hit and a fixture of children's viewing in the years since.

For a studio that leans heavily on established brands, a property with two blockbusters behind it and a devoted young audience is exactly the kind of thing it tends to continue.

## The live-action version arrives first

Whatever happens with a third animated film, the more immediate "Moana" news is concrete: a live-action remake of the original is arriving in cinemas this month, [Deadline reported](https://deadline.com/2026/06/box-office-moana-projection-1236959343/). It features Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui — the character he voiced in the animated films — alongside a newcomer in the title role.

Live-action remakes of animated hits have become a core part of Disney's strategy, with decidedly mixed results at the box office and among critics. The "Moana" remake will be a notable test of whether the formula still draws audiences, and its performance may well shape how aggressively Disney pursues the franchise's future.

## A franchise with cultural weight

Part of "Moana's" resonance lies beyond the numbers. The films have been praised for bringing Pacific Islander culture, voyaging traditions and music to a mass global audience, and for the care taken in their creation. That cultural footprint, as much as the box-office returns, helps explain the affection the series commands and why its continuation would be welcomed by many fans.

For now, the picture is a mix of the confirmed and the speculative: a live-action remake on the way this month, strong momentum behind the animated films, and reports — unconfirmed — of a third chapter to come. If the past decade is any guide, the safe assumption is that the ocean, as the films like to put it, will be calling again.

## Sources

- [Moana 2 crosses $1 billion at the global box office](https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/moana-2-1-billion-global-box-office-1236272527/)
- [Box office: Dwayne Johnson's live-action 'Moana' eyes strong start](https://deadline.com/2026/06/box-office-moana-projection-1236959343/)