Live-Action reimagining of Moana

[Agent H]

To copy paste my thoughts from another thread I know this started production before Moana 2 even came out but why not just make Moana 3?

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

This is annoying because it's going to make $1 billion. They need to stop.

 

[Disney Irish]

This is annoying because it's going to make $1 billion. They need to stop.

And there is the problem, if it makes $1B+ it doesn't make business sense to stop. Creatively it makes all the sense in the world to stop, but from the business side of things you have to go where the money is.

 

[LittleBuford]

This is annoying because it's going to make $1 billion. They need to stop.

I have a strange feeling (based on nothing really) that it isn’t going to do all that well.

 

[TalkingHead]

Looks like a new low point

 

[HuntrixOwlMouse98]

Here's the first teaser for Moana, in theaters July 10, 2026:



New poster:
View attachment 893188

New stills:
View attachment 893190View attachment 893191View attachment 893192
View attachment 893193

Good news, I won’t be seated for this soulless cash grab because after the train wreck that was the Lilo and Stitch remake, I’m no longer endorsing the Disney remakes, because if they’re going to continue, then I no longer have hope with (most of) the company’s recent releases.

Iger needs to retire as CEO now, because he’s the one that’s keeping those cash grabs alive and not put them out to pasture after Snow White (2025) bombed like how Universal killed off its Dark Universe franchise after the 2017 Mummy flopped spectacularly hard, I hope when either D’Amaro or Walden are named Iger’s successor, then they will find a way to permanently put these remakes to rest (like how John Lasseter (pre-2018) ended the Disney direct to DVD sequel fad for good), alongside canceling Iger’s pipe dream of AI Generated content on Disney Plus, even if Moana (2026) ends up making cash

No wonder people prefer other studios over what we’re once the best in the industry (sure, How to Train Your Dragon (2025) was unnecessary (and admittedly a tad overhyped), but at least that remake barely changed anything and not add an ending where the main character has to be separated from their family unlike another Summer 2025 remake playing in the theater next door and it became a solid popcorn flick, and Sony/Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters topped most, if not all of Disney’s recent animated feature output this decade so far, for having strong female leads that don’t shove themes down our throats and are handled better than most women in film right now, there is no way in hell that this film will lose the Animated Feature Oscar to Zootopia 2 come March, unless it’s a tie between the two)

In other words, don’t go see and endorse the Moana remake next summer and instead, stay home, save your money, and watch the original 2016 movie in the comfort of your home and use that money to go see Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (a movie that’s more worth seeing in IMAX than this)

 

[CaptinEO]

There is only some much you can do to "better" the CG of water. Look at even Avatar 2 just a couple years ago, which was praised for its visuals especially the CG water physics, the CG water physics in that film look pretty similar to what they are doing here. I would imagine they are using the same techniques if not the same software for the CG water here that they did for Avatar 2.

I'm not saying I'm for this movie, in fact I think I'm on record as saying its probably too new of a movie to have a remake done, but to me the idea that the CG water physics was going to be any different than the animated movie is silly in my opinion.

This doesn't even look close to Avatar 2 CG which was motion captured water surfaces and motion captured actors under water.

 

[Disney Irish]

This doesn't even look close to Avatar 2 CG which was motion captured water surfaces and motion captured actors under water.

Ok, respectfully disagree, but appreciate your opinion.

 

[Baloo124]

I know this started production before Moana 2 even came out but why not just make Moana 3?

To answer your question, see below:

it's going to make $1 billion.

And I will be one of many contributing to the movie's success.

Now run off and stew about it.

 

[Ghost93]

There is only some much you can do to "better" the CG of water. Look at even Avatar 2 just a couple years ago, which was praised for its visuals especially the CG water physics, the CG water physics in that film look pretty similar to what they are doing here. I would imagine they are using the same techniques if not the same software for the CG water here that they did for Avatar 2.

I'm not saying I'm for this movie, in fact I think I'm on record as saying its probably too new of a movie to have a remake done, but to me the idea that the CG water physics was going to be any different than the animated movie is silly in my opinion.

So if they can't make the movie much more visually interesting, it really has no reason to exist other than creative bankruptcy and Disney's desire to increase its earnings to appease shareholders.

This is not art. It disgusts me in the same way the How to Train Your Dragon remake did, only more so because the first film isn't even a decade old. I really want this to fail because if it does not, it will just lead to more original projects being pushed aside for slop like this.

 

[CaptinEO]

Ok, respectfully disagree, but appreciate your opinion.

Avatar special effects are done by Weta Digital who are the most expensive VFX company. New technology was made to provide underwater motion capture and tracking of water surfaces.

That is not what is going on here. No motion capture is being done for Moana Live Action.

Not saying I expect each movie to go to the lengths and expenses of Avatar. But Disney outsources things like this vfx to the lowest bidder (not exaggerating).

Lightstorm Entertainment is the production company behind Avatar which is why they can hire Weta, its not an in house Disney project.

If you can't tell the difference that's fine but I for sure can.

My issue is that this is just a worse looking 3d cartoon (now with some live actors) of what was already a decent looking cartoon that at least looked consistent before.

 

[Disney Irish]

So if they can't make the movie much more visually interesting, it really has no reason to exist other than creative bankruptcy and Disney's desire to increase its earnings to appease shareholders.

This is not art. It disgusts me in the same way the How to Train Your Dragon remake did, only more so because the first film isn't even a decade old. I really want this to fail because if it does not, it will just lead to more original projects being pushed aside for slop like this.

Do movies have to be visually interesting just for them to exist? Do all movies have to be art? And before you answer think about the general public not just you personally.

While I'm not a fan of this specific movie, I don't think the general public really cares all that much how much time has passed or whether its "art" or not.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I have a strange feeling (based on nothing really) that it isn’t going to do all that well.

I have the same inkling, though I don't know whether it is wishful thinking.

This just seems too nakedly a cash grab given it is a remake of such a recent animated movie that is still mostly animated anyway coming at a time when the shine has come off the remakes. Sure, Lilo & Stitch did well, but I wouldn't be surprised if that ends up being a case that ends up showing these remakes can still be massive hits, but only if they choose the right property and execute it reasonably well rather than just by default. A Moana remake now just seems to obviously something that no-one is asking for.

 

[Agent H]

To answer your question, see below:

And I will be one of many contributing to the movie's success.

Now run off and stew about it.

I sincerely hope you enjoy it. It just seems weird to me to remake a movie this new.

 

[Disney Irish]

I sincerely hope you enjoy it. It just seems weird to me to remake a movie this new.

I don't disagree, my guess has always been that this was Dwayne Johnson who was pushing this movie to be made, not Disney. And that the only reason Disney really went along with it is because Johnson had a contract and they figure they could get a big box office since Moana has been popular.

 

[Brer Panther]

I gotta wonder... sure, these things make money, but if Disney decided to stop doing these remakes, would anyone protest? Anyone at all?

 

[TalkingHead]

I gotta wonder... sure, these things make money, but if Disney decided to stop doing these remakes, would anyone protest? Anyone at all?

Theater owners

 

[Agent H]

I don't disagree, my guess has always been that this was Dwayne Johnson who was pushing this movie to be made, not Disney. And that the only reason Disney really went along with it is because Johnson had a contract and they figure they could get a big box office since Moana has been popular.

why would he push this movie to
Be made over Moana 3?

 

[lazyboy97o]

why would he push this movie to
Be made over Moana 3?

$$$

Johnson was just a voice actor in the animated movie. He’s an actor, producer and owner of one of the production companies of the live action movie.

 

[Disney Irish]

why would he push this movie to
Be made over Moana 3?

Same reason why he was the one who announced it originally, he is the producer of it.

As @lazyboy97o stated its under his own production company -