In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, Frozen is finally (?) getting a sequel. After the titillating Star Wars spinoff and Episode VIII news was revealed in the Disney shareholder meeting earlier today, Disney CEO Bob Iger, CCO John Lasseter, and actor Josh Gad announced that Frozen 2 is officially in development at Walt Disney Animation. While there is currently no release date or production details available, we do know that directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and producer Peter Del Vecho will be involved.
“We enjoyed making Frozen Fever so much and being back in that world with those characters,†said John Lasseter in a press release. “Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck have come up with a great idea for a sequel and you will be hearing a lot more about it and we’re taking you back to Arendelle. We are so excited about that.†If Disney is looking to recapture the magic of Frozen, it seems likely that the cast (Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Jonathan Groff) and composers (Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez) will all return, too.
We say that Frozen is “finally” getting a sequel because it was not just Disney’s biggest hit ever, it basically took over the cultural zeitgeist for well over a year after its release. It grossed over 1.2 billion worldwide, won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars in 2013, sold out its line of merchandise for months on end, has its own live stage show in development, spawned a zillion online parody videos, was added to the Disney Parks and Cruise lines, AND has its own short, Frozen Fever, airing before the new live-action Cinderella this weekend. It was always a no-brainer that Disney would give the clever, empowering film a sequel, the only question was when. The answer? Uh… soon?
Are you excited to see a Frozen sequel? What sort of icy shenanigans do you think Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven will get in to? Are you ready to have another song like “Let It Go” stuck in your head for the rest of eternity? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Honestly, I know this will make so many people happy. However, Disney, like any other business, is just milking out this cash cow some more. What Disney sequel has EVER been any good? There may be a couple diamonds in the rough, but I bet there isn’t more than 5.
On one hand, I think “Frozen” is the most overrated thing Disney has ever produced and I just want it to go away. On the other hand, they really have a chance to top what they did the first time, and make a much better movie, since they already have established characters and relationships to go off of.
They don’t have to spend a huge amount of time on creating the characters and overall story (which I think really messed them up the last time and made the final film seem rushed), and they can focus on the plot, score, and making the animation actually great.
I am thrilled! As a mom of a little boy who adores Olaf and as a lifetime Disney lover! Cannot wait!