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Disney sued for $10 billion in Moana 2 copyright claim

By January 13, 2025 No Comments

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 $US10 billion, or 2.5 per cent 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 last year 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.

 

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