Moana 2's Success Is Great For The Franchise After Controversial Live-Action Remake Decision
Moana 2has been a massive success for Disney, with the film collecting almost $1.6 billion worldwide and then finding a comfortable home on streaming, where even more audiences have fallen in love with it. One major aspect of the sequel that's been endlessly praised is Auli'i Cravalho's lead performance, which is just as compelling and emotional as the first time around. But unfortunately, Cravalho won't be returning for the Moana live-action remake.
The information understandably left audiences disappointed, with most expecting that Moana 2 would be the last time she'd play this iconic role. However, given the film's immense success and commercial gains, it's becoming more and more likely that Disney will greenlight a third Moana movie. If this is the case, there's a clear path for Cravalho's eventual return.
Moana 2's Success Means Auli'i Cravalho Should Return For Moana 3 & Potentially Beyond
The Actress Deserves The Chance To Finish Moana's Journey
Thankfully, the success of Moana 2 at the box office makes it much more likely that Auli'i Cravalho will reprise her titular role at some point in the franchise's future. Although she's previously expressed that she doesn't want to be involved with the live-action remake, this doesn't mean that her career as Moana is fully over. IfDisney moves ahead with a potential animated Moana 3, it would make much more sense to bring back the actress who portrayed the character in the first two movies.
After Moana 2 Disappointed With Just 61% On RT, I'm Convinced Moana 3 Will Be Way Better Thanks To One Huge Change
Moana 2 was a box office hit but a critical disappointment, meaning that Moana 3 will most likely avoid the sequel's biggest development issue.
The live-action Moana remake would be separate from the main franchise (a fact that's made more complicated by Dwayne Johnson's involvement in both, among other cast members), so there's no reason that Cravalho must fully pass the torch to a younger star. In fact, recasting Moana's voice actress would be a huge riskthat could derail the success of the franchise, since Cravalho's performances have been among the best parts of the first two movies.
New Animated Movies Can Keep Cravalho's Moana Around Even After She Was Recast For The Live-Action Remake
Both Actresses Can Portray The Character In Two Formats
Disney is no stranger to having live-action remakes and animated originals exist at the same time, so it should be no different for Moana. If there can be three Pinocchio movies within five years, and multiple live-action Lion King movies (including a prequel), there's no reason that two actors can't portray Moana at the same time. The success of Moana 2 makes the upcoming Moana remake less risky, but only if Disney can balance these two formats effectively, which will involve the original star having a continued presence.
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