Does Moana 2 hint at her being a Demi-God? Status of the Disney character explained

The team behind Moana 2 recently spoke about Auli'i Cravalho's character being a demi-god. Moana was introduced in 2016 as a young girl living on a Polynesian island. She encountered Maui, a shape-shifting demi-god, after a terrible curse disrupted the lives of Motunui residents. After a perilous journey in the first film, she returned for another adventure with Maui to protect people from Nalo's malicious plans.

Moana faced several challenges, one of which also took her life. However, she was brought back to life as a demigoddess, thanks to Maui's chant that summoned her ancestors. Months after Moana 2's theatrical release, the film is now available on 4K and Blu-ray, and to stream on Disney+. So, the folks at Gizmodo's io9 had an extended conversation with the Walt Disney Animation Studios team to learn about the fate of Auli'i Cravalho's character as a demi-god.

When asked about the iconic revival scene, Moana 2 directors, David G. Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand said:

"We purposely set up that.”

They further added:

“Ultimately our theme is that you never stop choosing who you are, discovering who you are. So it felt also just very appropriate [for] the second film to end on that open question. We know that she has become a demigod. But what does that mean exactly?”

Based on these comments, the fans can look forward to Moana's journey as a demi-god in the following chapters. A threequel doesn't seem unlikely, considering the financial success of Moana 2, which became one of the highest-grossing films of 2024.

Until then, the brains behind this project offer additional insights into Moana 2 and their vision for her character.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Moana 2. Reader discretion is advised.

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Moana 2: David G. Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand discuss their vision behind this character

Moana was once supposed to be a Disney+ series, but eventually became a part of a feature film series, which is charting at the box office. As a result, the makers had a larger arc planned out for Auli'i Cravalho's character. In line with this, David G. Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand spoke with io9.

Derrick and Hand were part of the art department in the first film. Later, they became a part of the directorial team, which also added Dana Ledoux Miller. In the wake of the sequel's success, Hand shared his plan for Moana's journey:

“The next chapter of Moana’s story, ultimately [what] we were planning [for the] series was the story we told in [the] feature. But we were just able to tell it in the biggest most effective way, on the big screen.”

Derrick further added:

“When we started the story for this, we knew that there were so many more stories that could be told. And so obviously, we wanted to be able to keep the door open if we so desired to want to make more, if the audience’s desire was there.”

Hand and Derrick also reflected on Moana's sacrifice, followed by her revival as a demigoddess. So, the next chapter can trace her journey to understand what this identity means to her.

Executive decisions aside, a threequel seems to be on the cards considering the post-credits scene in the film. It showed Nalo seeking revenge against those who wronged him. Tamatoa, a giant crab, joined his cause. So, Moana's return as a demi-god can show her working against their looming threat.

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Also read: Will there be a Moana 3? Significance of the post-credit scene, explored