In a huge move that sent shockwaves through not one single person on the planet, Disney today announced that a sequel to its mega-hit animated musical Frozen is definitely happening.
The announcement came during a Disney shareholders' call, during which the Mouse House also announced the release date for Star Wars: Episode VIII (May 26, 2017 — that's just 18 months after The Force Awakens arrives) and the title and release date for the franchise's first standalone film, Star Wars: Rogue One (December 16, 2016).
During the call, CEO Bob Iger made the announcement that Frozen 2 is in development.
This news comes just two days after directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee publicly denied that anything concrete had been decided regarding a second movie. It's not hard to imagine the feverish phone calls and meetings that probably occurred between Disney's higher-ups and the filmmakers to sign them up, in order to reassure shareholders.
At last, I can say – FROZEN 2!!!! I'm beyond excited to create alongside my Frozen family! pic.twitter.com/Xgbt67QuGc
— Jennifer Lee (@alittlejelee) March 12, 2015
At the moment, the only officially confirmed details are that Buck and Lee are back for Frozen 2, and that actor Josh Gad has signed on to reprise his role as Olaf the snowman. The remaining cast, and presumably songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who crafted all those songs your kids can't stop singing, are still in contract negotiations. (Disney would have to be utterly bonkers to not give them all whatever they want. Deviating from the formula that made Frozen a smash is a risk not worth taking.) Update: Kristen Bell will also be back for the Frozen sequel.
Dreams really do come 2!!! #FROZEN2 #itsofficial pic.twitter.com/qF6qTQlnqi — Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) March 12, 2015
Disney did not disclose a projected release window or any other information. In the meantime, fans have the short film Frozen Fever to look forward to, attached to theatrical copies of the live-action Cinderella movie that's in theaters now. Disney is also known to be developing a stage musical version of Frozen, which the Lopezes are already involved in writing additional songs for, and Lee is attached as both writer and director.
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