At the end of Moana 2, the titular character transforms into a demigod, which makes for an exciting and unexpected twist, but also creates a major issue for Disney's live-action adaptation plans. Eight years after the release of Moana, Disney recently brought back the beloved franchise via Moana 2, which was first announced as a TV series, but was later developed into a feature film. In the movie, Moana is given another dangerous mission by her ancestors to face off with the god, Nalo, and reinstate the forgotten island of Motofetu to reconnect with the island people.
Moana 2's ending is just as heartwrenching as the first movie. Moana and her crew are struggling to fight back against Nalo, when Moana decides to take matters into her own hands by diving to Motufetu herself. She succeeds in defeating Nalo, but she loses her life in the process. In a particularly touching scene, Maui and Moana's ancestors gather around her, and using their powers, revive Moana and turn her into a demigod. This twist not only leads to a happy ending for Moana, but it also raises the stakes for the next Moana movie.
Moana Becoming A Demigod Means She Shouldn't Age After Moana 2
How Moana's Demigod Status Changes Her Character
Following Moana's demigod twist, audiences may have a number of questions and concerns about the future of the character. For one thing, now that Moana is a demigod, she will not age ever again. Like Maui, she will look the same for the rest of her life, which will of course be extended indefinitely. On one hand, this means Moana can live forever within her franchise, spurring on more movies and content. Then again, her story becomes more complicated by the demigod twist, as she will inevitably outlive everyone she loves except for Maui.
As exciting as it is that Moana now has advanced powers and increased durability, the long-term consequences of that are bleak.
Considering that Moana is mostly geared towards younger audiences, the fact that Moana will exist beyond her loved ones is somewhat concerning. This is obviously not a scenario that Disney will want to showcase on the big screen, but it is an avenue that is hard to ignore. As exciting as it is that Moana now has advanced powers and increased durability, the long-term consequences of that are bleak. It leads many to wonder what will happen to Moana over time. Although she can live forever, her story will have to end eventually so as not to get too dark.
Moana Not Aging Is Fine For Animation - But The Live-Action Films Can't Copy It
This Isn't Live-Action Moana's Only Aging Problem
Apart from Moana's newfound immortality, her lack of aging comes with another big problem, specifically for the live-action adaptation of Moana. Disney intends to release a live-action version of Moana in 2026, starring Catherine Laga'aiga as Moana. At the moment, Laga'aiga is the perfect age to play Moana, at 17-years-old. However, if the franchise continues in the live-action realm, Laga'aiga's age will become a problem. It is impossible for the actress to stop aging in the same way that Moana does at the end of Moana 2. Thus, Moana's live-action movies may not continue past the second film.
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Moana's Live-Action Remake Franchise Will Avoid One Major Issue With Moana 2
Moana 2 is far from being the end of the Moana franchise, and fortunately, the upcoming live-action film will avoid a major problem from the sequel.
In fact, this isn't the only issue that the live-action Moana has in terms of aging. Laga'aiga is the ideal age to play Moana at the moment, but if Disney intends to make a live-action Moana 2, their timeline will have to be somewhat quick. Although eight years passed between Moana and Moana 2, only three years actually passed for the character. In this way, Disney will have to make a live-action Moana 2 within three years of the first live-action Moana so that Laga'aiga does not age out of the role. Ultimately, Disney has created various obstacles for itself.
Moana 3 May Need To Undo Its Demigod Twist To Help Disney's Future
Cons Of Undoing The Moana Demigod Twist
One potential solution to keep Moana alive and thriving is to undo the demigod twist in Moana 3. By doing this, Moana could age normally and avoid a somewhat depressing fate as an isolated magical being. Plus, on the live-action side of things, the Moana franchise could continue being transformed into live-action without too many worries about Laga'aiga's age. To turn Moana back into a human would be to undo a number of issues that the end of Moana 2 created.
Of course, undoing this twist would also cause new issues. For one, Moana's transformation into a demigod means that she is far more invincible than before. One of the main themes of Moana 2 was that the Motufetu mission was too dangerous for mere mortals. From now on, Moana doesn't have to face this issue. On top of that, undoing the demigod twist might make Moana 2 feel like a waste of time for the franchise. There is something to be said for Moana 2 sticking to its guns and making the best of a complex (but not impossible) situation.
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Moana 2
Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated film Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the vast Pacific Ocean while encountering new characters and challenges along the way.
Release Date November 27, 2024
Runtime 100 Minutes
Director David G. Derrick Jr. , Jason Hand , Dana Ledoux Miller
Writers Dana Ledoux Miller , Jared Bush , Jason Hand , Ron Clements , John Musker
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English (US) ·