Auli'i Cravalho has announced she is reprising the voice of Moana for the upcoming animated sequel, which will open in theaters this November.
The actress, who lent her voice to the titular protagonist of Disney Animation's 2016 hit Moana, confirmed in a recent Instagram post that she officially answered the calls of the sea-quel and is heading back to Motunui for another adventure, writing in the caption, "We're sailing WAY beyond the reef this November."
The Walt Disney Company made a surprise announcement about Moana 2 in February, sharing a short teaser of the animated movie's Polynesian princess on the beach. The cast was not disclosed at the time, though the clip ended with the iconic sound of a fa'aumu call from Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson in the original film.
Per the official logline, "Walt Disney Animation Studios' epic animated musical Moana 2 takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced."
Directed by Dave Derrick Jr. with music from Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa'i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina, Moana 2 opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024, eight years after the original movie starring Johnson and Cravalho arrived on the big screen.
A live-action adaptation of Moana is also still in development, with Johnson reprising his role as Maui. Cravalho has already told fans she will not be back as Moana for that film but said she feels "honoured" to pass the baton to another actress of Pacific Island descent. Cravalho will instead serve as an executive producer.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
