Dwayne Johnson Shares First Look at ‘Moana 2’ at CinemaCon

Dwayne Johnson is making a splash while providing a sneak peek at Disney’s highly anticipated Moana 2.

At CinemaCon 2024 in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 11, the producer-actor — who voices the demigod Maui in the animated franchise — joined Disney’s star-studded presentation of upcoming titles. 

Johnson, 51, entered the stage amid a troupe of Polynesian dancers, briefly joining in while grinning for the crowd.

Playing Maui, inspired by his own grandfather, “has been one of the most life-changing experiences for me,” he said. Promising “all new songs” in the sequel, he quoted the first movie in quipping, “You’re welcome!”

After two members of The National Association of Theatre Owners presented Johnson with the Spirit of the Industry Prize, he introduced a first-look sequence of Moana 2 footage for the CinemaCon audience.

Auli’i Cravalho, the voice behind the titular princess-chieftess, could be heard singing a new song — about being “back to who we’re meant to be” — as Moana returns to her colorful island home of Motunui.

After her family greets her, it seems a mysterious new adventure awaits when the ocean begins beckoning Moana back. “We never stop choosing who we are,” intones a voice that is probably from her grandmother Tala (Rachel House).

The sequel to the 2016 animated musical, which grossed $687 million worldwide, was confirmed in February. It’s directed by Dave Derrick Jr., featuring music by Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina.

“Three years since her first voyage, Moana is on an expansive journey in search of people beyond the shores of Motunui,” per an official synopsis. “Joined by Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.”

Moana 2 is not the only project set in Disney’s fictitious version of Polynesia. Following its release, a live-action remake of the original is also on the horizon. 

Cravalho, 23, will not be playing the live-action version of the princess-chieftess (casting is now underway). But the Mean Girls star is among that film’s executive producers.

In a statement, Cravalho said the character “has had such a profound impact on how we think of Disney princesses. Moana’s strength and perseverance are inspiring — to audiences around the world, to me and to everyone who helped bring her to life. I’m looking forward to sharing her story in a whole new way.”

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Further cast announcements for both Moana 2 and the live-action Moana are still to come. Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger and Alan Tudyk were among the voice actors in the 2016 original.

Disney’s CinemaCon presentation also included other glimpses of upcoming titles ranging from family-friendly (Inside Out 2) to horrific (Alien: Romulus) to downright scandalous (Deadpool & Wolverine).

Moana 2 will be in theaters Nov. 27.