Filmmaker Jennifer Lee will make a surprise return to the franchise to direct Frozen 3 & 4. Lee rose to prominence as an animation director in 2013 with her feature film debut Frozenwhich she wrote and co-directed with longtime Disney animator Chris Buck. The movie was a success at the box office, earning over $1.28 billion globally against a production budget of $150 million. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and spawned a successful franchise, with Lee and Buck returning for Frozen 2After which she was appointed chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Despite the success of Frozen 2And after her new role for Disney, Lee initially ruled out a return to the Frozen Franchise. Yet, according to reports from IndiewireThe A wrinkle in time Writer has stepped down as the creative officer of Disney Animation to return exclusively to filmmaking and direct the next two Frozen Sequels. In a statement, the Oscar winner confirmed her decision, saying that she is grateful for the experience that the role gave her and for the support she received around her decision to step down. Read her comments below:
“I am so grateful to Bob and Alan for supporting my decision to return to filmmaking full time. Every day working with them is a master class in creativity, business, community, and integrity. . . .”
Which direction can Frozen 3 & 4 Name?
Details on the story remain under wraps.
Frozen 3 is set for release on November 24, 2027, with Lee also co-writing and executive producing Frozen 4. Not much is known about the storyline for Frozen 3 yetBut the epic, sprawling world will have plenty to offer in terms of story ideas, and could well see Anna and Elsa heading out on another quest to save Arundel. That seems to be the case per concept art revealed at D23, showing the sisters’ return and the tease of a dangerous villain.
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Plot details have been largely kept under wraps, but Lee has suggested that the movie will Explore the origins of Elsa’s powers, including the theory that she inherited them from her mother. The sequel may also reveal what happened to Hans, who is expected to return. Given that Frozen 3 & 4 Filmed simultaneously, there is plenty to explore between the two movies, and it feels likely that the plot of both films will be interconnected.
Our take on Lee’s frozen return
Lee is best suited to helm the sequels.
There will be a lot of expectations for the upcoming Frozen Sequels to be a success, which may be one of the reasons behind Lee’s return to the series. It will also provide an opportunity to inject greater representation into the franchise, which has been lacking, but as the first woman to direct two feature films that have grossed more than $1 billion at the box office. Frozen Sequels should be in safe hands with Lee.
Source: Indiewire
Frozen 3 is the follow-up to the highly successful Frozen 2, released back in 2019 by Walt Disney Pictures and Animation Studios. Announced on February 8, 2023, the film is a direct sequel to the second film’s events and also casts Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell to reprise their roles as Elsa and Anna.