Disney Announces the Development of “Frozen 2”

Walt Disney Animation has officially begun the development of a sequel to its smash hit 2013 film Frozen. Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger made the announcement during Disney’s annual shareholder meeting with Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter and Frozen actor Josh Gad (Olaf the snowman). Frozen 2 reunites directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee with producer Peter Del Vecho. Neither plot details nor a release date have been released at this time.

This news comes shortly after production of the short Frozen Fever, and not long since Mr. Buck remarked to the Huffington Post last week that “It was really nice to do a short and just get back with these characters who we love without the pressure of having to do a huge sequel,” and that “We’re going to take a little bit of a break from the ‘Frozen’ stuff before diving into anything else.”

However Buck and Lee also never ruled out doing more, and there’s no apparent pressure to produce Frozen 2 quickly. Walt Disney Animation’s upcoming film slate is presently occupied by Zootopia (March 4, 2016) and Moana (November 23, 2016) followed by a break in 2017, which is expected to debut Toy Story 4 and a still unannounced film from sister company Pixar Animation Studios. In 2013 Disney Animation locked the dates of March 9, 2018 and November 21, 2018, one of which is rumored to be for a film inspired by the English fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk.

“We enjoyed making Frozen Fever so much and being back in that world with those characters,” Mr. Lasseter said to shareholders. “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.”