Original Moana songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda explains why he didn't return to write any songs for Moana 2. Though Moana was a respectable success in theaters upon its release in 2016, the film really took off years later on Disney+, where it continually ranked as one of the most-watched streaming movies. After starting life as a TV show, Moana 2 released in theaters last month, featuring songs written by Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, with Miranda thought to have chosen Mufasa: The Lion King over the Disney sequel.
During a recent interview with THR, Miranda sets the record straight on his Moana 2 absence, explaining that it wasn't a matter of choosing between Moana 2 and Mufasa. According to Miranda, the sequel's switch from a TV show to a movie meant that songwriters were already in place and that work had started with this different creative team. Check out his explanation below:
It didn’t line up that way actually. I got the script for
Mufasa
when I had just finished
Encanto
, and so I started working on that at the top of ’22. So,
Moana 2
was already in process as a TV series with Emily [Bear] and Abigail [Barlow]
. So then, when that decision got made to turn that into a movie, they were already cooking.
What Miranda's Absence Means For Moana 2
How The Disney Sequel Has Been Received
When it comes to Hollywood songwriting talent, Miranda, with his work on Hamilton, is widely considered one of the best working today. Miranda's song "How Far I'll Go" from the first Moana actually earned him an Oscar nomination, and the catchy songs from the film have been a major reason for that movie's continued success on Disney+. His absence in Moana 2 has been felt, however, and the sequel's music has been a point of criticism.
Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear take over songwriting duties for Moana 2 and bring some big new hits to the legendary canon of Disney songs.
As seen in the chart below, Moana 2 reviews have been far less positive than the ones for the first movie. Though the reasons for this vary, the songs are generally considered to not be as good as the ones in the original. That being said, it's clear that general audiences don't seem too bothered by Miranda's absence, as the film has already grossed over $601 million worldwide and it shows no signs of slowing down. The audience score, too, suggests most movie-goers are still finding plenty to enjoy despite Miranda's absence.
Moana Franchise Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Moana
95%
89%
Moana 2
61%
87%
Our Take On Miranda Not Returning For Moana 2
How Miranda Could Still Return To The Franchise In The Future
A number of the problems with Moana 2 stem from the fact that it started life as a TV show. Remnants of this TV structure remain, and it's now clear that the movie's original form is what's to blame for Miranda's absence. If the sequel had been conceived as a proper movie sequel, it seems possible Miranda could have returned, potentially avoiding one common point of criticism.
Moana 2 is poised to be one of 2024's biggest successes at the box office, and it's entirely possible that a Moana 3 will get the green light (in addition to the upcoming live-action Moana remake). If a third animated adventure does happen, this would open the door for Miranda's return to the franchise. For now, though, those looking to experience more of the songwriter's music can do so by seeing Mufasa: The Lion King when it hits theaters later this month.
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.
English (US) ·