Moana 2 has been a massive hit for the Walt Disney Company since its release in November 2024. The movie has earned impressive box office numbers and continues to capture the hearts of audiences worldwide.
Although it has received mixed reviews from critics, the movie’s charm is undeniable, especially as it sets the stage for more adventures with Moana, the daring wayfinder.
However, the success of the movie has also brought some controversy in the form of a lawsuit that claims Disney stole ideas for Moana 2 from an unmade project.
The lawsuit was filed by animator and writer Buck Woodall, who is seeking $10 million in damages. According to Woodall, Disney copied his ideas from a project he had been working on, called Bucky.
The lawsuit alleges that Moana 2 shares many similarities with Bucky, including the setting in Polynesian culture, the theme of teenagers defying their parents to set out on ocean adventures, and encounters with gods. Woodall argues that these similarities are not a coincidence, as his project, Bucky, has been in development for years.
Woodall claims that he had exposure to Polynesian culture, which heavily influenced Bucky. He believes that Disney took elements of his project when developing Moana 2. In his lawsuit, Woodall mentions that he pitched Bucky to Mandeville Films in the early 2000s.
At the time, Mandeville Films had a deal with Disney, and Woodall alleges that Jenny Marchick, a key figure at Mandeville, showed interest in his project. He claims that Marchick even told him that she could help get the movie greenlit with Disney.
Woodall’s lawsuit is not a new development. In fact, his claims go back even further, to before Moana was released. He tried to file a lawsuit against Disney regarding the first Moana movie back in 2024, but his case was dismissed because it was filed too late.
However, the release of Moana 2 allowed him to pursue the case once more. Woodall argues that his involvement with Mandeville Films and the alleged exchange of materials regarding Bucky took place around 2003.
Woodall’s ‘Moana’ Lawsuit Goes Back a Number of Decades
He claims that he sent a screenplay and trailer for Bucky to Marchick at that time. Disney, however, denies the allegations, stating that no one involved in the making of Moana ever saw materials related to Bucky.
Director Ron Clements even declared in court that Moana was not inspired by or based on Woodall’s project, and he only learned about the Bucky project after the lawsuit was filed.
The lawsuit is still ongoing, and there is no clear resolution yet. However, Woodall is seeking 2.5% of the gross earnings from Moana 2 as compensation for the alleged theft of his ideas.
The case is still complex, and it will take time before a decision is made. While Disney has not made many public comments about the lawsuit, the controversy has sparked interest in the entertainment world.
Despite the legal battles, Moana 2 continues to perform well at the box office and remains a favorite among fans. The lawsuit may cast a shadow over the success of the film, but for now, Moana’s story seems to be far from over.
