Dwayne Johnson Wraps Up Moana 2 Recording, Thanks Daughter For Motivation

Moana 2, which has Dwayne Johnson as Maui and Auli‘i Cravalho as Moana, will be released in theatres on November 27, 2024. Everybody fell in love with Moana’s Polynesian-inspired universe from the very first glimpses of the film. It is understandable why the movie garnered two Academy Award nominations—it features stunning animation, endearing characters and infectious music. Now, it appears that Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock has wrapped up his part of the upcoming film.

Dwayne Johnson took to Instagram to share a series of pictures with the caption, “That’s an official wrap (for now) on MAUI’s portion of our upcoming MOANA 2.” The photos feature his daughter, Jasmine Lia Johnson, watching her father at work. While Johnson is recording his audio for the film, Jasmine is seen giving him a fist bump in one photo, filming him in another and simply watching him in the last.

Continuing the caption, he stated that he had the “greatest motivation” to help him push through and stay strong.

The actor added that he had come to the realisation that his girl’s love is the source of his greatest inspiration, solace and joy. “I have a feeling this little one already knows that about her daddy.”

Back in 2020, Disney revealed that a new television series based on Moana was in the works, but details were kept under the wrap. Even though the original Moana movie had not yet been out for ten years, Dwayne Johnson and Disney shocked everyone in 2023 when they revealed that a live-action remake was in the works.

Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed earlier in February 2024 that Moana 2, a feature picture, will be adapting the previously planned Moana series.

When Disney announces a new animated film, the development process often takes many years but looks like that was not the case with Moana. Moana aired in 2016 and featured a teenager on a voyage to save her island by finding the goddess Te Fitti’s heart.

The film was well-received by both critics and audiences, earning a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $629.6 million globally.

However, it was overshadowed by Disney Animation’s other 2016 movie, Zootopia, which also won the Best Animated Feature Oscar.