Disney’s Moana 2 is finally here and has left fans scratching their chins in anticipation with its tantalizing mid-credits scene. The sequel sees Auliʻi Cravalho’s Moana and Dwayne Johnson’s Maui embark on another mission to safeguard the tribes. Moana 2 also introduces a new villain in the form of Nalo, the devious storm god. While the antagonist significantly affects Moana’s journey, he only appears in the film’s closing moments. In a recent discussion, Moana 2 co-director Dana Ledoux Miller shed light on the change in the post-credits, which finally put Nalo on the big screen.
Dana Ledoux Miller on why Nalo didn’t appear in human form until mid-credits
The producer-cum-writer remarked that the Moana 2 team really wanted to introduce Nalo in some or the other form. However, they refrained from shoehorning the divine entity into the movie, in order to showcase a more realistic threat.
While talking to Deadline, Dana Ledoux Miller addressed Nalo’s inclusion, revealing that the team “never really thought about bringing him in earlier to the story.” She explained the storm god’s portrayal as a force in the film. “Nature is such a powerful force within the Pacific, and the stories of the cultures across the Pacific,” Miller said. “The gods are always tied to nature in some way.”
Miller then proceeded to clarify the creative choice behind bumping Nalo’s appearance, in his true form, to the mid-credits scene of Moana 2. “We liked the idea of building out an obstacle that was really grounded in that,” she noted.
This explanation comes after Moana 2 directors Miller and David Derrick Jr. previously revealed that the much-discussed post or mid-credit scene underwent multiple changes. In a previous interview with Collider, Miller stated, “It was something that kept evolving the way the rest of the story did. I think the foundation of it was we introduced a demigod and a god into the world.” She also added, “We really just like the idea of having a little bit more.”
The sequel has majorly garnered positive reviews since its release. As such, it managed to record a massive opening of $221 million at the domestic box office over the Thanksgiving weekend.
