Animator Buck Woodall has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against Disney, claiming the studio used his screenplay for a project called Bucky as the basis for Moana and its upcoming sequel. Woodall alleges that both films share significant similarities with his work, including storylines about teenagers defying their parents, leaving their Polynesian villages, and embarking on journeys to save their homes. Along the way, both protagonists encounter tattooed demigods with large fish hooks and uncover mystical elements, such as massive creatures living inside mountains.
The lawsuit, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, points to additional parallels, including the use of turtle-guided journeys, necklace-centric plots, and dramatic oceanic whirlpools. Regarding the latter, Woodall claims, “Moana and her crew are sucked into a perilous whirlpool-like oceanic portal, another dramatic and unique device-imagery found in Plaintiff’s materials that could not possibly have been developed by chance or without malicious intentions.”
Woodall states that he provided his screenplay and supporting materials to Jenny Marchick, a former Disney-affiliated development executive, as part of a first-look deal with Disney. He alleges Marchick requested further character designs and production plans to assess the project.
A previous lawsuit from Woodall was dismissed last year due to timing, but Moana 2’s release allowed him to renew his claims. The new case highlights striking similarities between the films, which Woodall argues could not have been coincidental.
Disney denies the accusations, with Moana co-director Ron Clements stating, “Moana was not inspired by or based in any way on [Woodall] or his Bucky project.”
The lawsuit now seeks damages equivalent to 2.5% of Moana’s gross revenue and an injunction against further use of the alleged ideas. The case raises questions about intellectual property rights in Hollywood’s competitive creative landscape.
