After the remarkable worldwide success of Moana 2, Disney is returning to one of its most cherished modern franchises—but this time with a live-action twist. The studio’s upcoming adaptation of the 2016 animated hit arrives with sky-high expectations and a simple yet difficult mission: prove that audiences are ready to revisit the Pacific adventure once again.

The film also marks the return of Dwayne Johnson as the larger-than-life demigod Maui, a character that helped redefine the original movie’s legacy. While Johnson’s comeback is expected to attract longtime fans, industry analysts believe the film faces a unique challenge. Unlike most franchise revivals, this release comes less than two years after Moana 2 enjoyed an exceptional run in cinemas, making it one of Disney’s biggest recent theatrical successes.

The timing has sparked debate across Hollywood. Can audiences embrace another version of the same beloved story so soon, or will franchise fatigue begin to surface?

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Disney clearly believes the answer is yes.

The original Moana, released in 2016, gradually evolved into one of Disney’s most-watched films through streaming platforms and home entertainment. Its unforgettable soundtrack, rich Polynesian-inspired storytelling, and inspiring coming-of-age narrative transformed it into a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate with families around the world.

Rather than creating a brand-new chapter, the live-action film revisits the original journey of Moana as she sets sail across the ocean to restore balance to her island, accompanied by Maui on another epic adventure. The combination of familiar storytelling with modern visual effects is expected to introduce the franchise to a new generation while offering longtime fans a fresh cinematic experience.

For Disney, the project represents more than another remake. It reflects the company’s ongoing strategy of reimagining animated classics as live-action blockbusters, following previous successes such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. However, recent adaptations have produced mixed box-office results, making the performance of Moana especially significant for the studio’s future plans.

Much of the spotlight naturally falls on Dwayne Johnson, whose portrayal of Maui remains one of the franchise’s defining elements. His charisma, larger-than-life screen presence, and deep association with the character are expected to be among the film’s biggest strengths.

The movie also carries heightened expectations because of the extraordinary momentum generated by Moana 2. Sequels often build anticipation for future installments, but launching a live-action retelling so soon after a successful sequel is relatively uncommon for a major Hollywood franchise. That makes this release an interesting test of audience demand rather than simply another remake.

Despite questions surrounding its commercial prospects, Disney remains optimistic. Family films continue to perform strongly in theaters when they offer spectacle, emotional storytelling, and recognizable characters—qualities that have always been central to the Moana brand.

Whether the live-action adaptation becomes another billion-dollar success or faces tougher competition at the global box office, one thing is certain: Disney is once again placing one of its most valuable modern franchises at the center of the cinematic conversation.

The fight over the future of film production incentives in the United States has entered a critical phase, with David Ellison taking his campaign directly to Washington, D.C.

The Paramount Skydance chief executive recently met with Republican members of the House Ways and Means Committee, urging lawmakers to consider a federal tax credit aimed at strengthening America’s entertainment industry. His visit comes at a time when the sector is navigating increasing production costs, fierce international competition, and a legal challenge backed by a coalition of 12 U.S. states.

The move signals that Hollywood’s biggest studios are becoming more actively involved in shaping policy rather than waiting for lawmakers to act.

A Federal Tax Credit Could Reshape Film Production

For years, individual U.S. states have competed to attract film and television productions by offering generous tax incentives. These programs have helped generate local jobs, boost tourism, and support thousands of businesses connected to filmmaking.

However, industry leaders argue that the current state-by-state approach is no longer enough.

Countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and several European nations continue to expand attractive production incentives, encouraging major studios to film overseas. Executives believe a nationwide federal tax credit could help keep more productions—and the jobs they create—inside the United States.

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David Ellison’s meetings with lawmakers focused on presenting this broader economic case, emphasizing that entertainment is not only a cultural export but also a major contributor to employment, technology, and local economies.

Legal Dispute Adds Pressure

The policy discussions are unfolding alongside a lawsuit backed by 12 states that has intensified debate around government support for the film industry.

Although the legal proceedings focus on broader questions surrounding production incentives, the dispute has increased pressure on policymakers to clarify how future film tax programs should operate.

Industry observers believe the combination of legal uncertainty and growing international competition makes this an important moment for Congress to examine whether federal incentives should complement existing state programs.

Why Studios Are Pushing for Reform

Hollywood has experienced significant disruption over the past several years.

The pandemic, labor strikes, inflation, changing audience habits, and the rapid expansion of streaming platforms have transformed how movies and television shows are financed and produced.

Major studios now face tougher decisions about where to shoot projects, often selecting locations based largely on available financial incentives rather than creative considerations alone.

Supporters of a federal tax credit argue that stronger incentives would help preserve skilled jobs, encourage infrastructure investment, and strengthen America’s position as a global filmmaking hub.

Critics, however, caution that any nationwide program would require careful oversight to ensure taxpayer funds generate measurable economic benefits.

David Ellison Takes a Public Leadership Role

As CEO of Paramount Skydance, David Ellison has become one of Hollywood’s most influential executives following the company’s high-profile merger activities and expansion plans.

Rather than leaving lobbying efforts to industry associations, Ellison’s direct engagement with congressional leaders demonstrates how seriously major studios view the current policy debate.

His visit also reflects growing cooperation between entertainment executives and lawmakers seeking ways to strengthen domestic investment while keeping the United States competitive in an increasingly global media landscape.

What’s Next?

No immediate legislative decision has been announced, but conversations surrounding a federal Hollywood tax credit are expected to continue in Congress over the coming months.

If lawmakers eventually approve such a measure, it could significantly influence where future blockbuster films, television series, and streaming productions are developed and produced.

For Hollywood, the outcome may shape investment decisions for years to come. For policymakers, it represents a broader debate about economic competitiveness, job creation, and America’s creative industries in an increasingly global market.

After an eight-year absence from feature filmmaking, Lee Chang-dong has returned with the kind of quiet, emotionally piercing drama that made him one of South Korea’s most respected cinematic voices.

His new film, Possible Love, premiered in competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it reportedly received a rapturous seven-minute standing ovation. The response immediately transformed Lee’s long-awaited comeback into one of the festival’s most talked-about premieres.

The film arrives with considerable awards-season momentum. It has already been selected as South Korea’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards and is emerging as a major contender for Netflix.

Lee Chang-dong returns eight years after ‘Burning’

Possible Love is Lee’s first feature since his critically acclaimed 2018 mystery drama Burning, starring Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun and Jeon Jong-seo.

The lengthy gap has only intensified anticipation surrounding the filmmaker’s return. Rather than rushing into another production, Lee has said he needed to understand what the story meant to him, its audience and cinema itself before moving ahead.

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“I’m not the type of filmmaker who can make movies easily,” Lee explained while discussing why the project took so long to complete.

The result is a 164-minute drama that combines intimate relationship struggles with a wider examination of economic inequality, workplace trauma and human dignity.

What is ‘Possible Love’ about?

The story follows two married couples whose lives could not be more different.

Jeon Do-yeon plays Mi-ok, a factory worker trying to hold her family together after her husband, Ho-seok, loses his job. Ho-seok is portrayed by Sul Kyung-gu, one of Lee’s most trusted collaborators.

Their working-class existence becomes intertwined with a wealthy, childless couple: documentary filmmaker Ye-ji, played by Cho Yeo-jeong, and her hedge-fund executive husband Sang-woo, portrayed by Zo In-sung.

Ye-ji enters Mi-ok and Ho-seok’s lives while making a documentary about laid-off workers. What initially appears to be a professional encounter gradually develops into a complicated relationship involving class privilege, emotional exploitation, jealousy and desires that the four characters have attempted to suppress.

The official Venice Film Festival synopsis describes the film as a story about two couples confronting their profoundly different lives and hidden longings.

A drama inspired by real labour unrest

Beneath its relationship drama, Possible Love carries a painful connection to modern South Korean history.

The film was partly inspired by mass layoffs at a major South Korean conglomerate in 2009. The dismissals led to an extended workers’ strike and a violent police crackdown that left lasting physical and psychological damage.

Lee initially considered making a film directly about the dispute more than a decade ago. However, he became uncertain about turning the workers’ real suffering into a fictional narrative, particularly because their experiences had already been explored through documentary filmmaking.

The project was revived in 2024 after Lee’s longtime writing collaborator Oh Jung-mi suggested combining the labour dispute with the fictional story of a filmmaker attempting to document it.

This decision gave Possible Love another moral dimension. The film does not simply examine the trauma of unemployment; it also asks whether privileged observers can truly understand suffering—and whether filmmakers risk exploiting the people whose stories they claim to preserve. Lee discussed the real events behind the drama during its Venice premiere.

Lee reunites with two of his most important stars

The movie also brings Lee back together with two performers who helped define earlier chapters of his career.

Jeon Do-yeon previously starred in Lee’s 2007 drama Secret Sunshine, delivering a devastating performance as a grieving mother. The role earned her the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Sul Kyung-gu, meanwhile, worked with Lee on Peppermint Candy and Oasis. Their reunion carries particular significance because Oasis won Lee the Silver Lion for Best Director at Venice in 2002.

In Possible Love, both actors are once again asked to portray ordinary people living under extraordinary emotional pressure. Their performances have been widely praised for avoiding easy melodrama while revealing the quiet resentment, exhaustion and hope buried inside their characters.

Cho Yeo-jeong and Zo In-sung provide an effective contrast as the affluent couple whose apparent stability begins to fracture once their lives become entangled with Mi-ok and Ho-seok.

A major Oscar contender for Netflix

South Korea’s decision to submit Possible Love for the Best International Feature Film category places it firmly inside the coming Oscar conversation.

The selection does not guarantee a nomination—the film must first advance through the Academy’s international-feature process—but its Venice reception, acclaimed director and high-profile cast give it an impressive early foundation.

The movie is also expected to become one of Netflix’s leading international awards contenders. The streaming platform has confirmed that Possible Love will receive a limited theatrical release on October 23, 2026, before arriving globally on Netflix on November 6. It is also scheduled to appear at the Toronto and New York film festivals. Netflix confirmed the release plan and South Korea’s Oscar submission.

Why ‘Possible Love’ is attracting attention

Lee Chang-dong has never been interested in offering audiences simple villains or convenient resolutions. His films tend to study people caught between personal desire and social pressure, leaving viewers to wrestle with uncomfortable moral questions.

Possible Love appears to continue that tradition. Early reviews have praised its performances, emotional restraint and examination of the invisible power imbalance separating its two couples.

The seven-minute Venice ovation may have announced Lee’s return in dramatic fashion, but the film itself reportedly works through subtler means. Its real power lies in the uncomfortable question at its centre: can love genuinely overcome divisions created by money, class and trauma—or does privilege eventually corrupt even the most sincere attempt at connection?

With Venice acclaim behind it and an Oscar campaign ahead, Possible Love is no longer simply Lee Chang-dong’s comeback film. It has become one of the most important international titles of the 2026 awards season.