LISTEN: Why ‘Moana’ Marks a Disney Misstep; ‘Young Washington’ Director Jon Erwin on Making Indie Films Work at the Multiplexes

'Daily Variety' podcast dives into news, trends and personalities making headlines in showbiz

By Cynthia Littleton

Cynthia Littleton

Business Editor

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On today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, in our weekly Box Office segment, Variety‘s Rebecca Rubin unpacks what went wrong with Disney’s “Moana” live-action remake. And Jon Erwin, the filmmaker behind “Young Washington,” explains how his Wonder Project banner is making indie theatrical films work as a business.

The box office dynamic around “Moana” seems to be a simply a case of too much too soon. Disney just released a “Moana” sequel in 2024. The live-action remake didn’t offer much urgency to get families to the multiplexes. The film’s hefty $250 million budget makes it an uphill climb after a modest start of $43 million.

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