The Ocean Calls Again: Dwayne Johnson Confirms 'Moana 3' Is in the Works at Disney

Dwayne Johnson has confirmed that 'Moana 3' is in development at Disney, with 'Moana 2' and live-action writers Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller penning the script. The tease comes as Disney's live-action 'Moana' sails into theaters July 10, capping a franchise that's grown into a billion-dollar phenomenon.

The ocean is calling once more. Dwayne Johnson has confirmed that "Moana 3" is officially in development at Walt Disney Animation Studios, teasing the next chapter of the smash oceanic musical just as Disney's live-action reimagining of "Moana" prepares to sail into theaters. For a franchise that has grown into one of Disney's biggest modern success stories, the news lands like the crest of a very big wave.

What Dwayne Johnson Actually Said

Speaking to press in Rio de Janeiro while promoting the live-action film, Johnson — the voice of the tattooed demigod Maui — didn't hedge. "Yes, we have talked about 'Moana 3,' yes," he said, before adding that Disney wants to let the live-action movie land first. He also revealed the creative team: "We have [the] amazing Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, who have been our writers … they will pen 'Moana 3.'" Bush and Miller are the same duo behind the live-action screenplay, keeping the storytelling in familiar hands.

How Moana Became a Disney Juggernaut

The original "Moana" opened in 2016 to a solid but unspectacular $680 million worldwide — then quietly became a phenomenon. On Disney+, it grew into one of the platform's most-watched titles of all time, its songs and characters cementing themselves in a generation of households. That streaming dominance is exactly why Disney pivoted "Moana 2" — originally developed as a Disney+ series — into a theatrical feature.

The gamble paid off spectacularly. "Moana 2" opened over Thanksgiving 2024 with a record-setting $225 million and sailed to a staggering $1.059 billion in global ticket sales, transforming the property into a four-quadrant box-office powerhouse. Against that backdrop, a third animated installment isn't just plausible — it's the natural next voyage for one of Disney's most bankable modern brands.

Who's Returning for the Threequel

Dwayne Johnson and Auli'i Cravalho are both expected to reprise their roles as Maui and the wayfinding heroine Moana. The first film followed the strong-willed daughter of a village chief, chosen by the ocean to restore prosperity to her island; the sequel sent her back into the deep to find a hidden island and break a curse. Plot details for the third film are still under wraps.

One open question is the music. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote first-film staples like "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome," sat out "Moana 2," handing songwriting duties to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. Whether Miranda returns for "Moana 3" — or whether Disney taps another team — remains one of the most closely watched details of the project.

First, the Live-Action Voyage

Before "Moana 3" sets sail, audiences will return to the island of Motunui in a different form. Disney's live-action "Moana" — starring Johnson alongside newcomer Catherine Laga'aia as Moana, directed by Thomas Kail in his feature debut and written by Bush and Miller — reaches theaters July 10. Johnson's threequel tease came while promoting that film, making it clear Disney sees Moana as a franchise with plenty of open water ahead.

Why Fans Are Buzzing

For Disney fans, this is the confirmation they'd been hoping for: the studio isn't treating "Moana" as a two-and-done story but as a long-haul franchise on the level of its biggest animated tentpoles. With a billion-dollar sequel behind it, a live-action epic days away, and the same writers steering the next animated chapter, "Moana 3" arrives with enormous momentum. The only real suspense now is what — and where — the ocean chooses next.