Disney hit with $10 billion copyright lawsuit over Moana franchise
Animator Buck Woodall has sued Disney for allegedly copying his screenplay for the film Moana and its sequel, seeking $10 billion in damages. The lawsuit claims that Disney used elements of Woodall’s project, Bucky, which shares similar themes and stories.
Disney is facing a lawsuit from animator Buck Woodall, who alleges the company copied the idea for the animated film Moana and its sequel.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Buck Woodall filed a lawsuit in California federal court, claiming Disney used elements of a screenplay he wrote for an animated film titled Bucky. The film reportedly shares the themes of Moana, involving teenagers from an ancient Polynesian village who go on an adventure to save their homes. Woodall is asking for 2.5 percent of Moana’s gross revenue, equivalent to $10 billion.
The lawsuit states that Woodall provided the script and trailer for his film to Jenny Marchick, a former development director at Mandeville Films who is now with DreamWorks Animation. The complaint claims that Moana was created using Woodall’s ideas, which he developed over 17 years. It highlights a specific scene involving a dangerous sea portal, which Woodall alleges was taken from his material.
A previous lawsuit filed by Woodall regarding the first Moana film was dismissed last year, but the release of the sequel allows him to once again take legal action.
Disney has not yet commented on the latest lawsuit. Previously, the company had said that no one involved in the making of Moana had seen Woodall’s material. Director Ron Clements declared in court that Moana was not inspired by or based on Woodall’s Bucky project.
Moana 2, released last yearThe story of Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, continues as she sets out on a new adventure with Maui, played by Dwayne Johnson. The film grossed $964 million, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2024 and is considered a strong awards contender in the upcoming season.
