Disney Sets Sail Again as ‘Moana 3’ Enters Early Development at Disney Animation

Moana’s story is not slowing down anytime soon. Disney is already moving forward with ‘Moana 3’, and early development has started at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The update suggests that the studio is not wasting time after the massive success of ‘Moana 2’, which crossed the billion-dollar mark at the global box office. The original 2016 film also continues to perform strongly on Disney+, where it remains one of the most watched titles on the platform.

Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller are confirmed to be writing the screenplay for the upcoming film. That detail alone signals that Disney is taking the project seriously from the start, even though the movie is still in its very early stages. The involvement of experienced writers also suggests the studio wants to keep the tone and emotional core that made the first two films so popular.

Dwayne Johnson, who plays Maui, recently confirmed in an interview that development on the next chapter is already underway. While full details were not shared, his comments helped confirm that Disney is actively shaping the future of the franchise rather than leaving it on pause after the sequel.

At the same time, Disney is expanding the world of ‘Moana’ in other ways. A live-action remake of the original film is set to release in a few weeks, with Johnson returning as Maui and Catherine Laga’aia taking on the role of Moana. That version is set to arrive in theaters on July 10, keeping the franchise in the spotlight even before the third animated film moves forward.

Casting for ‘Moana 3’ has not been announced yet, but there is strong expectation that Auliʻi Cravalho could return as the voice of Moana alongside Johnson. However, nothing has been officially confirmed, and Disney is known for keeping casting decisions under wraps until much later in development.

The timeline for the new film is still unclear. Disney Animation typically takes several years to complete a feature, and sequels often arrive long after early development begins. Some industry expectations suggest that if work continues at a steady pace, audiences may not see ‘Moana 3’ until the end of the decade.

Director David Derrick Jr., who worked on ‘Moana 2’, previously hinted at where the story could go next. He pointed to Moana’s new identity as a demigod and teased that there is still “untapped potential” in her journey. The post-credits scene from the second film also left room for future conflict, hinting at the possible return of Matangi and Nalo as larger threats.

For now, Disney has not revealed official plot details or a release date. Still, the combination of strong box office performance, ongoing franchise expansion, and early creative work shows that Moana’s world is far from finished. Fans will likely have to wait, but the ocean adventure is clearly continuing.

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