There’s troubled waters ahead for Moana 2. More so than sea monsters and killer coconuts: a lawsuit right in the midst of award season.
On Friday, animator Buck Woodall sought legal action against Disney, accusing the company of copying components of an animated film he wrote, “Bucky” and using them to create the Moana movies.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Woodall is suing for $10 billion, or 2.5% of Moana‘s gross revenue. The plaintiff attempted to sue Disney when the original Moana came out in 2016, but was deemed too late. The release of the sequel opened up another opportunity for legal action.
The screenplay for “Bucky,” which was copyrighted in 2003, takes place in a Polynesian village, tells the story of a headstrong teenager on a journey to break a curse, meeting spirit animals along the way, and also comes across a magical demigod with a signature hook. Many more plot point similarities also exist between Woodall’s screenplay and Moana, like both beginning with scenes featuring turtles or characters going down a whirlpool ocean portal.
In 2003, Woodall presented materials for “Bucky” to a Mandeville Films director of development who at the time had a first look deal with Disney. Disney has put forth materials to prove the originality of the Moana movies.
In a declaration of the court, Moana director Ron Clements said, “Moana was not inspired by or based in any way on [Woodall] or his ‘Bucky’ project, which I learned of for the first time after this lawsuit was filed.”
Whatever the outcome of the lawsuit is, it’s a horrible time to be sued with Oscar nominations being announced on Sunday, January, 19. The drama may cost Moana 2 nominations in the Best Animated Feature or Best Original Song groups.
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