Disney’s next animated feature film is Frozen 2, a sequel to the Mouse House’s most successful cartoon ever. Directed by original filmmakers Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck (based on a script by Lee and Allison Schroeder), Frozen 2 will see the return of sisters Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell), as well as Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and snowman Olaf (Josh Gad). Disney has been very, very quiet on story details for Frozen 2, but expect that all to change as its 2019 release date approaches.
- Release Date: 22 November 2019
- Cast: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Evan Rachel Wood, Sterling K. Brown
- Directors: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck
Frozen 2 Releases Before Next Thanksgiving
Frozen 2 is set to release on 22 November 2019, meaning there’s just over a year until Frozen 2 releases. The film was originally set to release on Thanksgiving Eve, but it was moved forward a week. This is something of a surprise. The first Frozen movie released in the US on 27 November 2013, just in time for that year’s Thanksgiving. Given the success Disney’s had on that date since with the likes of Moana and Coco, it’s was expected Frozen 2 would follow suit. It’s likely Disney moved it a week earlier to maximize the lead-in for what could be one of the biggest films of the year.
Frozen’s Main Voice Cast Return For Frozen 2
It wouldn’t be a proper Frozen sequel if the main cast of Frozen didn’t return. Thankfully, Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad are all confirmed to be back in Frozen 2, recording lines for Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf respectively.
While that’s everybody from the main Frozen cast returning (don’t expect Santino Fontana to return as Hans, unless in a small cameo), there’s sure to be a few more supporting characters from the original movie returning for Frozen 2.
Frozen 2’s Story Is A Mystery
As for what the characters will be up, sadly Frozen 2‘s story is still a mystery. Disney knows that Frozen is one of their most valuable brands, and so hasn’t had any need to properly tease what the movie will be about; everybody’s already as excited as they can be. It’s expected to see Arendelle in some form of conflict again, and Josh Gad has said it’s “worth the wait”. An official trailer didn’t provide much plot insight, although did show Elsa trying to master her powers, a crystal threat to Arendelle and the characters traveling to a new, autumnal land.
Read More: We Still Know Little About Frozen 2
Watch The Frozen 2 Trailer
Disney released a teaser trailer for Frozen 2 on February 13, 2019 – that’s nine months in advance, earlier than most Disney films (it was reportedly supposed to release in March). The trailer is very much in the style of Star Wars: The Force Awakens marketing, teasing characters and iconography with little sense of plot.
Related: Disney’s Frozen 2 Trailer With The Avengers Theme Is Actually Perfect
Frozen 2’s New Voice Cast
Along with the original Frozen stars, Frozen 2 also boasts two major additions. Sterling K. Brown and Evan Rachel Wood have joined the cast of Frozen 2, although like much to do with the movie, their roles are currently a mystery. Given they were added in July 2018, almost a year-and-a-half before Frozen 2‘s release date, it’s fair to assume they’re going to be important characters, with one possibly a villain. Audiences will know Brown from This Is Us, The People vs. O.J. Simpson and Black Panther, and Wood from Westworld, True Blood and Across the Universe.
These won’t be the only new cast additions to Frozen 2 – expect more announcements in 2019.
Frozen 2 Will Explain Frozen
As is expected from just about any Disney animation, Frozen fans have had a lot of fun picking apart the world of the film. How did Olaf gain sentience? What the heck is troll magic? How does the economy work? Well, it looks like Frozen 2 may address some of these questions. Producer Peter Del Vecho said that the film builds very much on the first, retroactively explaining parts of the world and plot of Frozen that were ambiguous the first time around.
Frozen 2 May Give Elsa A Girlfriend
After Frozen released, one of the most popular fan theories was that snow queen Elsa is actually gay; her story can be read as a metaphor for coming out, especially considering her main song “Let It Go”. Whether or not this is true has yet to be confirmed by Disney or the filmmakers, but that hasn’t stopped rumors that Frozen 2 will address Elsa’s sexuality. The latest rumors suggested that Elsa will have a girlfriend in Frozen 2. This would be a pretty major step for Disney, marking their first openly-gay princess.
There Have Been Multiple Frozen Shorts Before Frozen 2
Although Frozen 2 is, obviously, the first movie in the franchise since the original, it’s not the only Frozen goodness fans have got. The film’s pervasive merchandising has kept it in the public consciousness, and there have been two short films set in the world. First came Frozen Fever in 2015, attached to Cinderella, which showed the dangers caused when Elsa gets a cold. Then, in 2017, there was half-hour short Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, showing Olaf celebrating his first Christmas. The latter proved controversial when it was put in front of Coco in cinemas, but received a warmer reception once it debuted on ABC.
Frozen 2 Was Teased By Wreck-It Ralph 2’s Post-Credits Scene
Although Frozen 2 doesn’t have a trailer yet, that doesn’t mean Disney is pretending the movie doesn’t exist. In fact, the end-credits scene to Ralph Breaks The Internet, Disney’s latest animated movie, actively trolls Frozen fans: a card comes up promising a sneak-peek at Frozen 2, only for Ralph to come on screen doing a cover of “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. It’s Disney’s own version of Rick Roll, successfully tricking the audience.
Frozen 2 Was Teased In Zootopia
Wreck-It Ralph 2 isn’t the only Disney movie to reference Frozen 2. 2016’s Zootopia was absolutely full of Frozen easter eggs, from elephants dressed like Elsa and Anna to Kristen Bell making a cameo as Priscilla the sloth. However, one particularly smart gag teased the sequel. When Judy Hopps is offered bootleg DVDs, the titles included a selection of animal twists on upcoming Disney movies: Mewana (Moana), Giraffic (Gigantic) and Floatzen 2 (Frozen 2). Gigantic, a twist on Jack and the Beanstalk, was canceled during development, but we’ll be getting our human version of Floatzen 2 soon enough.
Next: Disney’s Upcoming Movie Releases – From 2019 to 2023
Key Release Dates
Frozen 2
Release Date:2019-11-22
