These days, all the biggest sequels are more than one movie: Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2. That other franchise that shall not be named. And now, Disney Animation is adding arguably its biggest franchise to that list: Frozen.
This week, one of the writers and directors of the first two Frozen films, Jennifer Lee, stepped back from her role as chief creative officer of the Walt Disney Animation Studios. She did so to focus full time on Frozen 3, which she’s writing and directing for a November 2027 release, and Frozen 4, which she’s writing for sometime after that. In the email she sent to her staff, printed by the Hollywood Reporter, Lee revealed that two films would be telling one overarching story.
“I will be returning to filmmaking full time writing and directing with Marc Smith on Frozen 3 and Frozen 4,” Lee wrote. “I admit, I was hooked from the moment Marc first pitched this new adventure for our gang, and I am in awe of the incredible work he has done since then developing this powerful story. As a studio, we are fairly new to musical sequels, and this will be our first story told over two films at once. I’m excited for the challenge and so grateful for this opportunity to return to filmmaking, and can think of no better way to do so than with our Frozen family.”
There are no specifics on what the future of Arendelle may hold, but as we mentioned above, the idea to split a story in two has been used to excellent effect in recent years. If a franchise is big enough, and the story is strong enough, taking it and splitting it in two means double the profits, double the merchandising, double the everything. And, certainly, after two billion-dollar hits, Frozen is in that category.
Taking over for Lee as CCO of Disney Animation is Jared Bush, who has been with the studio since 2014. He’s worked on several huge hits but most prominently, he wrote and co-directed Zootopia, is doing the same for its upcoming sequel, wrote both Moana movies, and wrote and directed Encanto. Not a bad run.
So certainly Disney Animation as a whole is in good hands and now both new Frozen movies are in excellent hands as well. A decision that, after six years as the head of the studio, Lee didn’t come to lightly. “I am so grateful to Bob [Iger] and Alan [Bergman] for supporting my decision to return to filmmaking full time,” Lee said in a statement. “Every day working with them is a master class in creativity, business, community, and integrity. I’ve always believed in Jared’s incredible talent and can’t wait to see, with his passion and dedication to animation, what he brings to the CCO role. For me, getting to collaborate with this studio of artists, animators, and storytellers is such a privilege, and I look forward to all we will create together.”
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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