Moana 3 is officially in the works at Disney, confirmed by Dwayne Johnson himself
Moana is sailing back for a third animated adventure. Dwayne Johnson just confirmed Moana 3 is in development at Disney, with the franchise’s longtime writers on board. Here’s what we know, who’s making it, and when you might actually see it.
The ocean is calling once again. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has officially confirmed that Moana 3 is in the works at Disney, giving fans their first real word on the animated franchise’s future.
Johnson spilled the beans himself while promoting a different Moana project. Here’s exactly what he said, who’s making the threequel, and the big question of when it’ll actually arrive.
What Dwayne Johnson confirmed
Let’s start with the moment it went official.
Speaking at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro (for the upcoming live-action Moana remake), Johnson, who voices the demigod Maui, was asked about a third animated film. His answer was short but clear: “Yes, we have talked about Moana 3, yes.”
He went on to note that fans should enjoy the live-action remake first, but confirmed the animated threequel is moving forward at Walt Disney Animation. It’s the first solid confirmation that Disney’s beloved animated franchise is continuing, and fans who worried the studio might pivot entirely to live-action can breathe easy.
The dream team is back
Here’s the detail that should excite longtime fans.
Moana 3 will be written by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, and that’s a very good sign. Bush has been a creative anchor of the franchise from the start, he wrote the original 2016 film and co-wrote Moana 2. Ledoux Miller joined for Moana 2, co-writing and co-directing it.
In other words, the exact creative team that has guided Moana across its recent films is returning for the next chapter. (Fun fact: Bush and Ledoux Miller also wrote the live-action remake, so they’re currently steering three different Moana projects at once.) For fans, having the proven architects of the franchise back at the helm is reassuring.
When will Moana 3 come out?
Here’s the part where you’ll need some patience.
Disney hasn’t announced a release date, and realistically, it could be a while. Here’s the holdup: Walt Disney Animation typically releases just one movie a year, and its next couple of slots are already spoken for, Hexed arrives in November 2026, and Frozen 3 follows in November 2027.
That means Moana 3 likely won’t hit theaters until 2028 at the earliest, and possibly later. Disney Animation also tends to take its time with sequels, often six years or more. So while the movie is confirmed, “in the works” is the key phrase, this is an early-development confirmation, not a film with a locked release date.
Why Disney is doubling down on Moana
Here’s the business logic, and it’s rock solid.
It’s no mystery why Disney wants more Moana. The numbers are staggering:
The original Moana (2016) grossed $687 million worldwide and then became a Disney+ phenomenon, consistently one of the most-watched titles on the service for years.
Moana 2 (2024) was originally planned as a Disney+ series, got upgraded to a theatrical release, and it paid off enormously, a record-breaking $225 million Thanksgiving opening and over $1 billion worldwide.
When a franchise is printing money like that, a third movie isn’t just likely, it’s a no-brainer. Auli’i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, is expected to return for the animated threequel.
A rare Disney first
Moana 3 is arriving at an interesting moment. With the live-action remake hitting theaters July 10 and the animated franchise continuing at the same time, Disney will have a property running as two separate film series simultaneously, animated and live-action, side by side.
That’s a first for Disney. Its other live-action remakes (Beauty and the Beast, Lilo & Stitch, and the rest) all came long after the original animated films had wrapped up. Moana running both at once is uncharted territory for the studio, and a sign of just how valuable this particular property has become.
Moana 3 release date and everything we know so far
Moana 3 is officially in development at Disney, confirmed straight from Dwayne Johnson, with franchise veterans Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller writing the script. That’s genuinely great news for fans of Motunui, the creative team is proven, and the franchise clearly isn’t slowing down.
The catch is patience: with Disney Animation’s slate full through 2027, Moana 3 probably won’t sail into theaters until 2028 or beyond, and Disney hasn’t locked a date. But between the animated threequel in early development, the live-action remake this month, and Moana 2‘s billion-dollar haul still fresh, one thing is crystal clear: Moana isn’t done wayfinding yet.
The ocean chose this franchise, and Disney is more than happy to keep answering the call. You’ll just have to wait a bit longer to see how far she’ll go this time.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Variety (July 2026), the originating report, verified for Dwayne Johnson’s confirmation of Moana 3 at the Rio de Janeiro live-action press conference (the “Yes, we have talked about ‘Moana 3,’ yes” quote and the “let live-action come out first” framing)
ScreenRant and ComicBook.com (July 2026), verified for the confirmation that Moana 3 is in development at Walt Disney Animation with Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller writing, the writers’ history across the franchise, Auli’i Cravalho’s expected return, and the release-timing analysis (Disney Animation’s full slate through 2027 with Hexed and Frozen 3, pushing Moana 3 to 2028 or later)
Attack of the Fanboy and Wikipedia (July 2026), verified for the franchise box-office figures (the original’s $687 million and Disney+ success, Moana 2’s record $225 million Thanksgiving opening and $1.059 billion total), the live-action remake details (July 10 release, Catherine Laga’aia, director Thomas Kail), and the simultaneous-franchises context