Disney has gained a reputation for remaking their classic animated films. They are somehow paradoxically mocked by people online but also massive moneymakers that audiences flock out to see. There was an unwritten rule though that a Disney animated film had to be about twenty years old before it got the live-action remake treatment. That changed during Disney's most recent investor call when it was announced they were developing a live-action remake of Moana.
Moana was released in November 2016, less than seven years ago. That is the shortest turnaround for a Disney animated film to a live-action remake announcement. Moana was a hit, but it did earn less than Frozen or Zootopia. Why is Disney so eager to give Moana a live-action remake so soon? It is likely a combination of factors including Moana's cultural popularity, the wishes of Dwayne Johnson, and Disney's overall long-term business plans.
Moana Performs Incredibly Well On Disney+
Anyone with a child, or young siblings, likely knows how popular Moana is with young audiences. Since the launch of Disney+, the film has been one of the biggest hits on the streaming service. When Nielsen recorded the ten biggest movies of 2022 on streaming, Moana ranked fourth behind Encanto, Turning Red, and Sing 2. Unlike the others, however, Moana was not a recent release. Six years after the film opened it is still an in-demand film.
Moana was a hit at the box office, but the film's long-term staying power on streaming has been a major win for Disney and one they are not likely to ignore. Disney has always been a fan of making money, and clearly there is money to be made on more Moana. Yet unlike Frozen, Wreck-It-Ralph, or Zootopia which were given animated sequels, Disney has opted to give Moana a live-action remake.
Disney Is Running Out Of Sure Fire Live-Action Remake Hits
Ever since 2010's Alice in Wonderland grossed $1 billion worldwide, Disney has been tapping into their iconic animated films and making live-action remakes. While they originally focused on the classic films made during Walt Disney's tenure like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book, they began experimenting with the more recent films made during the Disney Renaissance like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. All three of these movies were massive box office hits and showed Disney they could make even more money remaking the most popular Disney films, specifically the modern ones who were kids when the originals came out and now old enough to have their own kids allowing Disney to maximize profits.
Meanwhile, after the box office disappointment of Dumbo, the remakes of classic Disney movies like Lady and the Tramp, Pinocchio, and the upcoming Peter Pan were sent to Disney+, while Disney Renaissance films like the upcoming The Little Mermaid were given theatrical releases. However, Disney has started to run out of their biggest hits. While the studio still can remake beloved animated films like Hercules or The Hunchback of Notre Dame, those are more of a financial risk. Meanwhile, the studio likely does not want to remake films that already lost money like Treasure Planet, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, or The Black Cauldron. Disney is clinging to the live-action remake trend and that means even recent films like Moana are open for remakes.
Dwayne Johnson Wants To Change The Balance Of Power In The Disney Universe
One of the most likely reasons Disney is opting to give Moana a live-action remake is it is the wish of star Dwayne Johnson. Johnson is coming off a difficult 2022, which saw the high-profile box office disappointment of Black Adam. Johnson had spent years hyping up Black Adam as a game changer for the DCU, but in the end, the film was seen as a dead end for the franchise and might have also derailed Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Johnson looking to take control behind the scenes on the DCU and not promoting DC League of Super-Pets on his social media certainly hurt relations with Johnson and Warner Bros. Meanwhile, the actor has turned down multiple offers to return to the Fast and Furious franchise.
Despite this, Dwayne Johnson is still one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. He is in demand and studios still want to work with him, specifically Disney. While they are developing Jungle Cruise 2, that film is less likely a box office guaranteed as the first film was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is unsure if a sequel would turn a profit. Johnson likely approached Disney with the idea of a live-action remake as a way to rebuild his brand, and Disney did not turn it down because, as mentioned earlier, Moana makes plenty of money for them.
Emphasis On Other Culture
For all the cynical business reasons why Disney may want to remake Moana, there is one element that on the surface does have some positive motivations. It is important to both Disney and Dwayne Johnson to spotlight Polynesian culture. A live-action Moana film affords new opportunities to Pacific Island talent both in front of and behind the camera. Disney could always make an original film, but remaking Moana is a surefire box office hit that gives people of the culture Moana is about a chance in the spotlight. This is very important to Disney as a company but also stars Dwayne Johnson and Auli'i Cravalho.
Disney in particular has emphasized highlighting other cultures. Films like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Black Panther, Encanto, Raya, and the Last Dragon, and Coco are just a few films that have shown Disney's commitment to highlighting various cultures around the world that have been sadly ignored by Hollywood studios, including Disney in the past. Disney is a global brand, and they want to make sure everyone can see themselves represented in the company. It is better for their brand in the pop culture zeitgeist which translates to more profits. While it may not be done out of altruism, there is still good that can be made from a calculated business move.
Audiences will certainly go see a live-action Moana, even if they think it is a bad idea, and the movie can serve as a stepping stone for better projects and representation in the future.