Here’s what’s happening today with Moana (2016) and its expanding franchise:
🎬 Lawsuit Verdict
A U.S. federal jury recently ruled that Disney didn’t plagiarize a surfer‑boy story titled “Bucky the Surfer Boy.” They found that the creators of Moana never accessed that work (apnews.com).
🔄 Live‑Action Adaptation
- Disney is actively developing a live‑action remake of Moana.
- Directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton), starring Catherine Laga‘aia as Moana and reprising Dwayne Johnson as Maui. Auli’i Cravalho remains onboard as an executive producer (en.wikipedia.org).
- Release date moved from June 27, 2025 to July 10, 2026, to space it out from Moana 2 (en.wikipedia.org).
🧜♀️ Animated Sequel: Moana 2
- Moana 2 released in theaters November 27, 2024, and streamed on Disney+ starting March 12, 2025 (en.wikipedia.org).
- On home media: digital download on January 28, 2025; Blu-ray/4K/DVD March 18, 2025 (en.wikipedia.org).
📊 Streaming & Sales Metrics
- Achieved 27.3 million views on Disney+ in its first five days—a top early launch for a theatrical film on the platform (en.wikipedia.org).
- Stood at No. 1 on iTunes and Fandango at Home charts the first two weeks (en.wikipedia.org).
- Garnered a massive 3.9 billion streaming minutes in March 2025, ranking among the top streamed films that month (en.wikipedia.org).
📍 Theme‑Park & Cultural Presence
- Moana & Maui floral topiaries debuted at EPCOT’s 2025 International Flower & Garden Festival (wdwmagic.com).
- The Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana interactive water‐trail attraction remains open in EPCOT (en.wikipedia.org).
- In Disneyland Paris, Moana features in live musical acts at the 2025 Disney Music Festival (pixiedust.be).
📌 Summary of What’s New Today
Category | Status |
---|---|
Lawsuit | Cleared—Disney officially won |
Animated sequel | Out and highly streamed |
Live‑action adaptation | In production for mid‑2026 |
Parks & festivals | Strong presence in attractions & live shows |
This vibrant Moana presence spans legal news, cultural celebration, streaming success, and a major new film branch. If you’d like deeper insight into any of these—like box office numbers, behind‑the‑scenes updates, or sequel comparisons—just let me know!