Disney Boss Blames 'Moana 2' Timing for Dwayne Johnson's $323M Live-Action 'Moana' Box Office Struggle

Disney president Dana Walden has pointed to the release timing of Moana 2 as a possible reason Dwayne Johnson's live-action Moana underperformed at the box office, suggesting audiences may not have had enough time to want another version of the franchise.

Speaking at Bloomberg's Screentime event, Walden said the live-action film was 'hurt by the proximity' of the animated sequel, which arrived in cinemas about 18 months earlier. She suggested the short gap may have limited the build-up of audience anticipation.

The comments come after the live-action Moana grossed approximately $323.4 million (£244.9 million) worldwide against a reported $250 million (£189.3 million) production budget. Johnson stars as Maui, reprising the role he voiced in the animated films.

Disney Points to 'Moana 2' Release Timing

'It's so competitive right now that you have to have ... the right film at the right time, with audiences feeling a certain degree of demand,' Walden said.

She described the live-action Moana as 'excellent' but said it was hurt by its proximity to the second animated film.

'Perhaps there was not enough time to create a lot of pent-up demand for another film,' Walden said.

Walden's comments provide Disney's explanation for one factor that may have affected the remake's performance, rather than establishing the release schedule as the sole reason for its box-office result.

How Close Were 'Moana' Live-Action and 'Moana 2'?

The original animated Moana arrived in 2016, while Moana 2 was released in November 2024, eight years later. The live-action remake followed in July 2026, less than two years after the animated sequel.

That meant audiences had seen another major Moana film relatively recently when the live-action version arrived. Moana 2 performed strongly at the global box office, taking more than $1 billion (£757 million) worldwide. By comparison, the 2026 live-action film finished with approximately $323.4 million (£244.9 million).

That release pattern forms the basis of Walden's explanation, with the Disney president suggesting the relatively short gap may have left insufficient time for audiences to develop 'pent-up demand' for another film.

What Is 'Moana 2' About?

Moana 2 is the animated sequel to Disney's 2016 film, bringing back Auli'i Cravalho as Moana and Johnson as Maui. Released on 27 November 2024, it follows Moana three years after the original as she sets out on a new voyage after receiving a call from her ancestors.

The sequel introduces a new crew of seafarers as Moana travels into the far seas of Oceania in search of people beyond the shores of Motunui.

Disney said the film's teaser trailer drew 178 million views in its first 24 hours, making it the studio's biggest animated trailer launch at the time.

Dwayne Johnson's Live-Action 'Moana'

The live-action remake stars Catherine Laga'aia as Moana and Johnson as Maui, with Thomas Kail directing. Johnson also served as a producer.

The film opened with approximately $43.1 million (£32.6 million) domestically before reaching its $323.4 million (£244.9 million) worldwide total.

According to Variety, Walden discussed the film's performance while also addressing other Disney and ABC matters during her appearance at Bloomberg's event.

Her comments put the release gap between Moana 2 and the live-action remake at the centre of the latest discussion around the film's box-office performance, while leaving open the possibility that other factors also affected audience demand.