Walden Says Moana 2 Timing May Have Hurt Live-Action Film

Disney president Dana Walden said the live-action Moana’s box-office performance may have been hurt by its release about 18 months after the animated sequel Moana 2, suggesting the interval left audiences with too little time to build demand for another film in the franchise. The live-action film grossed about $323 million worldwide, according to reports, while Moana 2 took in more than $1 billion. Walden’s explanation identifies release timing as a possible factor, but does not establish it as the cause of the remake’s box-office result. Speaking at Bloomberg’s Screentime event, Walden described the film as having been hurt by its proximity to the second animated Moana. She said the sequel had come together under unusual circumstances and premiered about 18 months before the live-action version. In her assessment, audiences may not have had enough time to develop pent-up demand for another film. The reported cost figures differ in scope. Some reports put the live-action film’s production budget at about $250 million, while another gives an estimate of $370 million for making and marketing it.