Anika Begay
By Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine
ANAHEIM, Calif. (Reuters) – Walt Disney, which reclaimed the top spot at the summer box office with Pixar’s animated film “Inside Out 2” and Marvel’s steamy “Deadpool & Wolverine,” kicked off its D23 fan convention on Friday with a live performance of the highly anticipated animated film “Moana 2.”
Dwayne Johnson, who starred alongside Auli’i Cravahlo and Hawaiian dancers, told the 12,000-strong crowd that, reprising his role as Maui, he would once again sing “Singing in keys that don’t exist.”
The film will hit theaters on November 27.
The company touted the strength of its films on an investor call this week, signaling a return to form after losing its spot as Hollywood’s top-grossing studio in 2023.
“It’s never too late to get that big Hollywood comeback,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “And they certainly did it.”
“Inside Out 2” is the highest-grossing animated film of all time, with a global box office gross of $1.6 billion, surpassing the record set by Disney’s “Frozen II.” A month later, “Deadpool & Wolverine” had the best domestic opening for an R-rated film and has grossed more than $850 million in ticket sales worldwide.
“There is obviously variability in the movie business,” Deutsche Bank analyst Bryan Kraft wrote in a note to investors. “But if Disney has found its box office magic again, there could be further growth ahead as it continues a strong theatrical slate.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger touted the film slate for the next two years, which includes the animated sequel “Moana 2,” a live-action version of Disney’s “Snow White,” a reboot of the Marvel superhero franchise “Fantastic Four: First Steps” and James Cameron’s third “Avatar.”
“When you think about not just the potential of those at the box office, but the potential of those to drive the value of global streaming, there’s reason to be optimistic about where we’re headed,” Iger said on the investor call.
The release of “Inside Out 2” has helped generate more than 100 million views of the original film on Disney+, the company said.
Investors and fans are hoping to get more details Friday about the future plans of the Marvel superhero studio. The company has had to cast a new villain for future films after actor Jonathan Majors was convicted of assaulting and molesting an ex-girlfriend. It has also been forced to delay some titles because of Hollywood’s writers’ and actors’ strikes last year.
At last month’s Comic-Con pop culture convention, Disney revealed that “Iron Man” actor Robert Downey Jr. will play “Fantastic Four” villain Doctor Doom.
