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Credit: DisneyDisney’s live-action remake machine isn’t slowing down, even as more fans ask the company to deliver something completely new. While familiar franchises continue to make huge money, many moviegoers have grown tired of seeing the same stories return again and again rather than fresh characters and original adventures.
That debate is heating up once again as the live-action Moana (2026) prepares to arrive in theaters. The remake has divided Disney fans from the moment it was announced, but before audiences even decide whether they like it, Disney is already looking toward the franchise’s next chapter.
The studio has now confirmed what’s coming after the remake, and it means Moana’s story is far from over.
Disney Keeps Returning to Proven Hits
Disney has spent the past several years building its release schedule around recognizable franchises. Animated sequels, live-action remakes, and follow-up films have become a major part of the company’s strategy.
To be fair, that approach often works.
Recent releases like Toy Story 5 (2026) and Zootopia 2 (2025) delivered impressive box-office results, proving that audiences still enjoy revisiting beloved characters.
Still, not every Disney fan is excited by the constant cycle of sequels and remakes. Many continue to hope the studio will invest more heavily in original stories rather than relying on established brands.
The Moana Franchise Keeps Expanding
Few Disney properties have grown as quickly as Moana.
The original animated film became a massive success after its 2016 release, especially on streaming platforms. Disney followed it with Moana 2 (2024), which earned another strong worldwide box office performance.
Now the franchise is heading back to theaters with a live-action adaptation starring Catherine Laga’aia as Moana alongside Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as Maui.
But Disney isn’t stopping there.
Dwayne Johnson Confirms Moana 3
Speaking during a press conference for the live-action movie in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dwayne Johnson confirmed that Walt Disney Animation Studios has already begun developing Moana 3.
He also revealed that writers Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller will return after working together on Moana 2.
“Yes, we have talked about ‘Moana 3,’ yes. But first, live-action ‘Moana,’ we’ll let that come out first. We have [the] amazing Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, who have been our writers … they will pen ‘Moana 3.'”
The announcement confirms Disney already sees Moana as one of its biggest long-term animated franchises, regardless of how the live-action remake performs.
Joining Rare Company
The third film will place Moana in exclusive territory for Walt Disney Animation Studios.
It will become only the second Disney animated franchise to receive a full trilogy, joining the Frozen series. Disney previously confirmed Frozen 3 (2027), which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 24, 2027.
The Moana films have certainly earned another installment. Together, the first two animated movies have generated more than $1.7 billion worldwide.
Story details remain under wraps, but Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson are expected to return as Moana and Maui.
Disney has not announced whether the live-action remake will receive its own sequel. However, the recent confirmation of Lilo & Stitch 2 suggests that successful remakes can quickly become franchises in their own right.
More Sequels Could Be on the Way
With Moana 3 now confirmed, attention naturally shifts to what Disney might announce next. The company has shown it is willing to keep expanding its biggest animated franchises as long as audiences continue to support them.
Zootopia 3 feels like an obvious possibility after the franchise’s continued success. Encanto 2 also remains one of the most requested sequels among Disney fans, although the studio has not officially announced it.
Other popular films could eventually receive follow-ups as well, but those two appear to be among the strongest candidates if Disney continues following its current approach. Given the studio’s recent strategy, it would not be surprising to see both eventually become reality, especially if demand from audiences remains as strong as it has been over the past several years.
Disney’s Franchise Plans Continue Growing
Animation is only one part of Disney’s growing franchise strategy. The studio already has several sequels and live-action projects in various stages of development, including:
- Live-action Tangled
- Lilo & Stitch 2 (live-action)
- Live-action Hercules
- Cruella 2
- Maleficent 3
That growing lineup shows Disney has no plans to slow its focus on established brands. Instead, the company continues to build larger franchises that span animation and live action while giving familiar characters even more opportunities to return to theaters. As long as audiences continue to buy tickets, Disney will likely keep expanding many of its most successful properties rather than shifting its attention to entirely original films.
Disney Isn’t Leaving Moana Behind
Whether fans want more sequels or more original stories, Disney has made its priorities clear. The company continues to invest heavily in franchises that have already proven they can attract audiences worldwide, even as calls for fresh ideas grow.
Before the live-action Moana (2026) even reaches theaters, the studio has already confirmed another animated adventure is on the horizon. For Disney, Moana has become far more than a single hit movie. It’s now one of the company’s biggest franchises, and the journey is only getting bigger. Whether fans embrace that direction or continue asking for something entirely new, Disney appears committed to keeping Moana at the center of its future plans.
