Frozen: Part V

[Warm Regards]

Kristen Bell says 'I'm recording 'Frozen 2' in my bedroom already'

Kristen Bell, like Anna Kendrick, has a more substantial background in singing than many audiences know, so it should come as no great shock that when she was finally given the chance to do a full-blown musical, she rocked it.

When we sat down to talk about her return to the character that first brought her to my attention, "Veronica Mars," I couldn't resist asking her whether or not Disney has already broached the subject of making a "Frozen 2." After all, the first one has become a full-blown phenomenon. I may not cover box-office stories, but it would be hard to miss just how big this film is at this point. It's been in the top ten longer than "Avatar" was, and it seems like fans can't get enough of it. Of course they're going to do a stage version of it, but for the first time, Disney may have no choice but to develop a theatrical sequel to one of the princess films, and as long as they keep the core creative team together, there's no reason they can't figure this one out.

Her answer was very entertaining, and it allowed her to talk a bit about just what a miracle it was that the first film came out the way it did. Sometimes, films that go through very difficult births end up being special precisely because of all the time and energy that was focused on figuring out exactly what they're trying to do, and I can't imagine how many different iterations there were of "Frozen" before they finally landed on the one that audiences are currently enjoying over and over and over.

It also sounds like Bell had quite a bit of input into shaping her character, so if they do bring Anna back for a sequel, here's hoping Bell gets a chance to be just as involved.

Sounds like the ball is in your court, Disney.

[DisneyEra]

Kristen Bell says 'I'm recording 'Frozen 2' in my bedroom already'

Kristen Bell, like Anna Kendrick, has a more substantial background in singing than many audiences know, so it should come as no great shock that when she was finally given the chance to do a full-blown musical, she rocked it.

When we sat down to talk about her return to the character that first brought her to my attention, "Veronica Mars," I couldn't resist asking her whether or not Disney has already broached the subject of making a "Frozen 2." After all, the first one has become a full-blown phenomenon. I may not cover box-office stories, but it would be hard to miss just how big this film is at this point. It's been in the top ten longer than "Avatar" was, and it seems like fans can't get enough of it. Of course they're going to do a stage version of it, but for the first time, Disney may have no choice but to develop a theatrical sequel to one of the princess films, and as long as they keep the core creative team together, there's no reason they can't figure this one out.

Her answer was very entertaining, and it allowed her to talk a bit about just what a miracle it was that the first film came out the way it did. Sometimes, films that go through very difficult births end up being special precisely because of all the time and energy that was focused on figuring out exactly what they're trying to do, and I can't imagine how many different iterations there were of "Frozen" before they finally landed on the one that audiences are currently enjoying over and over and over.

It also sounds like Bell had quite a bit of input into shaping her character, so if they do bring Anna back for a sequel, here's hoping Bell gets a chance to be just as involved.

Sounds like the ball is in your court, Disney.

Sorry Kristen, this is the next fairytale from WDAS:

[Disney's Divinity]

I wouldn't mind if there ended up being a Frozen trilogy (by the original team, of course), just to see--and hear--more of these characters. I wouldn't have ever said that about TLM or B&tB, but something about Disney's new films feels like they're made to be franchises (intentionally, I'm sure). Plus, CG films just make me think of sequels, tbh.

It'll be interesting to see how Big Hero 6 does after Frozen has been so huge. I'm expecting it'll only be around the same amount as Tangled and WIR, but it'd be nice to see a rise.

[RayCRP]

I really don't want to see a Frozen 2. Shorts I'm fine with -- I would expect most of them to be about Olaf and/or Sven, but I wouldn't mind canonical shorts around Anna, Elsa, and/or Kristoff either.. But they spent decades trying to make a viable film out of the source material, and I don't think any sequel that could come out quickly would be nearly as good, at least not to the standards set by a company that, aside from Fantasia 2000 and Winnie the Pooh (which weren't really sequels), has only produced one true sequel: The Rescuers Down Under.

I know there's been talk of a Wreck-it Ralph sequel, and while I'd rather they leave it alone, the universe established by that movie lends itself much better to sequels. Video games inherently have bad guys -- apparently contractually obligated bad guys. Big Hero 6 also naturally lends itself better to the potential of sequels. But with Frozen, the appeal wasn't the struggle against the film's antagonist, but rather the personal struggles and growth of the two sisters who lived their lives in fear and/or isolation. That's been resolved, and you can't undo that without undermining the first film.

Or you might think, OK, well, this time they can take the story in a new direction. Let's focus on Anna and Kristoff's relationship. Or let's find a guy for Elsa. Well, now you ruin one of the most refreshing non-issues of the first film. OK, what if some outsider wants to capture Elsa and use her powers for their evil gain? Overdone, predictable, and cheesy. OK, what if Elsa lost her powers? Then that's not the Snow Queen, and frankly I'm not sure she'd see that as an entirely bad thing.

I'm not saying a Frozen sequel would automatically be bad. But the expectations would be huge, and I think Disney has more to lose by risking tarnishing the franchise than augmenting it. Frozen will become a crown jewel for the company, and they're not one to risk dragging it through the mud with one, two, three, or four sequels.

Personally? If we had the option of hearing more of these characters, I'd rather they go back and produce an extended edition of this film, rather than try to make a sequel. They added scenes (and songs) back into Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Pocahontas. I think Frozen could become a more balanced and more enjoyable movie with an additional song or two or three toward the back end of the film. Perhaps a song for Kristoff where it seems like he's venting at how irrational Anna can be, but the audience can see his concern is actually a growing compassion. Perhaps a villainous monologue song by the antagonist when he reveals himself as the phantom menace. Perhaps a dramatic quartet leading up to the climax (which I've actually thought about so much that I'm considering writing and arranging it, just for fun).

[Disney's Divinity]

Or you might think, OK, well, this time they can take the story in a new direction. Let's focus on Anna and Kristoff's relationship. Or let's find a guy for Elsa. Well, now you ruin one of the most refreshing non-issues of the first film. OK, what if some outsider wants to capture Elsa and use her powers for their evil gain? Overdone, predictable, and cheesy. OK, what if Elsa lost her powers? Then that's not the Snow Queen, and frankly I'm not sure she'd see that as an entirely bad thing.

I disagree with your opinions on all these ideas except the last one. I wouldn't want to see a story about Elsa losing her powers, unless it's about a villain who takes them away from her somehow. If anything, I actually wouldn't mind a storyline where we discovered Anna may have some unconscious powers of her own (maybe heat to Elsa's ice).

I'm sure it's also possible the creators could come up with an interesting storyline for these characters that is none of the above.

I'm not saying a Frozen sequel would automatically be bad. But the expectations would be huge, and I think Disney has more to lose by risking tarnishing the franchise than augmenting it. Frozen will become a crown jewel for the company, and they're not one to risk dragging it through the mud with one, two, three, or four sequels.

They're not? I believe they went to strictly making 3D films only so they could compete with Dreamworks and Pixar to make more money and they have been pressuring Pixar to make sequels for a long time. Since they now have their own recent, successful properties and nobody barring them from moving forward, I fully expect them to make plenty of sequels in the future.

[Disney Duster]

However, I do feel Elsa was slightly undeveloped and she would’ve benefited from a bit more screen time. As far as the two sisters go, she definitely has more growth to go through, and we don’t really get that (the “Let It Go” independence moment feels artificial when she reverts back to being scared and hesitant of herself in every scene afterwards).

She still had her growth. "Let it Go" was not artificial. She was able to be independent as long as she stayed away from people. She was powerful and on her own and able to be herself, but when people still kept getting hurt that took that away. It wasn't artificial, it just got taken away.

[RayCRP]

I'm repeating what I wrote a page before:
How come when Elsa became the snow queen, even with the line in her song "A kingdom of isolation, and it looks like I'm the queen (by the way isn't that amazing that they make it so at first she says a kingdom of "ice" and then "olation" to make "isolation", because she makes a kingdom of ice!), she didn't make herself a new crown? She could have kept her old one but I get that she ditched it because she didn't feel she was queen of the kingdom that crown belonged to now. I thought maybe she didn't make her own crown out of comfort and practicality, but then she wouldn't wear those high-heeled shoes. So I think the snow queen should have made a snow crown for herself. Yes I know, then we wouldn't have the moment at the end credits, lol, but you know what I find to be a dilemma here.

At rest, we lose about 7% of our body heat through our head, and this can rise significantly depending on the frequency of physical activity; up to 50% at the start of physical exertion, dropping to 10% as we continue exercise. Therein lies a problem with creating a "snow crown."

You could argue that it didn't have to be snow, and that it could've been whatever magic was used to transform her clothes, but keep in mind that a crown (or tiara, as her mother wore) is merely symbolic. Until a few hours earlier, she spent her entire life not wearing any sort of crown or tiara, so she probably felt more comfortable without one. At most, she wore headbands as a child, but clearly stopped doing that by the time she reached her teens.

[unprincess]

I think Disney has more to lose by risking tarnishing the franchise than augmenting it. Frozen will become a crown jewel for the company, and they're not one to risk dragging it through the mud with one, two, three, or four sequels.

I think youre underestimating how important MONEY is to Disney. Theyve already tarnished the majority of their feature lenght classics, even the ones Walt made, with cheap sequels & they kept doing them long after people complained how bad & tacky they were.

We will get a Frozen sequel... the question is whether they will let the original team work on it or farm it out to DisneyToon Studios. For all we know the cancellation of the Tinkerbell series may be due to them wanting the studio to start working on Frozen sequels.

[thelittleursula]

I wouldn't mind if there ended up being a Frozen trilogy (by the original team, of course), just to see--and hear--more of these characters.

Yeah same here !

[RayCRP]

I think Disney has more to lose by risking tarnishing the franchise than augmenting it. Frozen will become a crown jewel for the company, and they're not one to risk dragging it through the mud with one, two, three, or four sequels.

I think youre underestimating how important MONEY is to Disney. Theyve already tarnished the majority of their feature lenght classics, even the ones Walt made, with cheap sequels & they kept doing them long after people complained how bad & tacky they were.

We will get a Frozen sequel... the question is whether they will let the original team work on it or farm it out to DisneyToon Studios. For all we know the cancellation of the Tinkerbell series may be due to them wanting the studio to start working on Frozen sequels.

Lasseter made it clear he didn't like the practice when he put an end to all DisneyToon sequels of WDAS films as soon as he was put in charge, even ones that were well underway in development. My understanding is that included sequels to Dumbo, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons and The Aristocats. Since 2007, the most DisneyToon Studios has been able to do with regards to WDAS creations is to make spinoff films, which has been the case with the Tinker Bell and Planes franchises. Short of Lasseter leaving Disney or being fired, DisneyToon Studios won't be doing Frozen 2. If we do get a sequel from WDAS (which, again, only happened for The Rescuers), it would go to the original team, and only green-lit once the concept is to Lasseter's satisfaction -- not Iger's. WDAS doesn't take sequels lightly, and Lasseter clearly has a respect for that history.

[Warm Regards]

I'm repeating what I wrote a page before:
How come when Elsa became the snow queen, even with the line in her song "A kingdom of isolation, and it looks like I'm the queen (by the way isn't that amazing that they make it so at first she says a kingdom of "ice" and then "olation" to make "isolation", because she makes a kingdom of ice!), she didn't make herself a new crown? She could have kept her old one but I get that she ditched it because she didn't feel she was queen of the kingdom that crown belonged to now. I thought maybe she didn't make her own crown out of comfort and practicality, but then she wouldn't wear those high-heeled shoes. So I think the snow queen should have made a snow crown for herself. Yes I know, then we wouldn't have the moment at the end credits, lol, but you know what I find to be a dilemma here.

At rest, we lose about 7% of our body heat through our head, and this can rise significantly depending on the frequency of physical activity; up to 50% at the start of physical exertion, dropping to 10% as we continue exercise. Therein lies a problem with creating a "snow crown."

You could argue that it didn't have to be snow, and that it could've been whatever magic was used to transform her clothes, but keep in mind that a crown (or tiara, as her mother wore) is merely symbolic. Until a few hours earlier, she spent her entire life not wearing any sort of crown or tiara, so she probably felt more comfortable without one. At most, she wore headbands as a child, but clearly stopped doing that by the time she reached her teens.

Funny that you say that, as she was going to wear her crown during the epilogue:

[RayCRP]

I like those designs.

I'm sure she would've gotten used to the kingdom's crown eventually, seeing as the expectation was that she'd wear a crown or tiara from the time of her coronation and onwards. But the night of her coronation, the crown was new for her and probably felt weird, so after she tossed it, she wasn't in a rush to give herself a new one.

But upon returning home and resuming her reign, it makes sense that she'd go back to wearing a crown for the kingdom.

[Walter]

A Frozen sequel can't be too bad. It can't be any worse than the Despicable Me sequel.

I wonder if the decision to make one, will depend on the success of the sequel of How to Train Your Dragon (which I will definitely go see). Because if the latter is successful, then Disney can have a franchise of its own to match that one.

[Marce82]

I'm not opposed to a sequel to Frozen. I think it would be a good chance to explore Kristoff a lot more.

But here is the main thing, and I am sure someone has probably said this before: (I was actually expecting this to be the ending of the original film). Why isnt the sequel an exploration of ANNA's powers? If Elsa was born with powers over cold, Anna should have powers over warmth. Sort of a "balance of nature thing". It could deal with Anna realizing she had powers all along, but so outwardly focus she never explored her inner self and never discovered her abilities (or could be linked to what the trolls did to her as a child).

THoughts?

[Disney's Divinity]

Lasseter made it clear he didn't like the practice when he put an end to all DisneyToon sequels of WDAS films as soon as he was put in charge, even ones that were well underway in development. My understanding is that included sequels to Dumbo, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons and The Aristocats. Since 2007, the most DisneyToon Studios has been able to do with regards to WDAS creations is to make spinoff films, which has been the case with the Tinker Bell and Planes franchises. Short of Lasseter leaving Disney or being fired, DisneyToon Studios won't be doing Frozen 2. If we do get a sequel from WDAS (which, again, only happened for The Rescuers), it would go to the original team, and only green-lit once the concept is to Lasseter's satisfaction -- not Iger's. WDAS doesn't take sequels lightly, and Lasseter clearly has a respect for that history.

I didn't know Lasseter had as much power as Iger. I mean, money put the knife into hand-drawn animation, which Lasseter supposedly wanted to keep alive. I believe it'll do the same to his anti-sequel wishes (in regards to their new films, at least). I wouldn't cite TRDU being the only sequel as good reasoning, considering the world of animated films is very different now from the way it was even in the 1990s, much less back when Walt Disney was running the company.

Besides, a sequel to Frozen would definitely not be handed off to DisneyToon Studios anyway, imo.

I'm not opposed to a sequel to Frozen. I think it would be a good chance to explore Kristoff a lot more.

But here is the main thing, and I am sure someone has probably said this before: (I was actually expecting this to be the ending of the original film). Why isnt the sequel an exploration of ANNA's powers? If Elsa was born with powers over cold, Anna should have powers over warmth. Sort of a "balance of nature thing". It could deal with Anna realizing she had powers all along, but so outwardly focus she never explored her inner self and never discovered her abilities (or could be linked to what the trolls did to her as a child).

THoughts?

*spoilers*
I actually mentioned something just upthread about a similar idea. I would love that, actually, but I like Anna almost as much as Elsa. Others may not be as excited by Anna getting more storylines in a possible sequel. Maybe if they went that direction, Anna's powers would not have shown up due to Elsa freezing her so young? And then Elsa learning how to de-thaw Anna at the end of the first movie lets Anna's powers finally show themselves? (I know the troll "fixes" Anna at the beginning, but Elsa is obviously more powerful than the trolls. Maybe she would be the only one who could completely undo her own power.)

About a sequel though: I hope they do not bring Hansback. I have never liked villain retreads except with certain kinds of villains, if they show up after a very long time from when they were first defeated in an interesting way.

[unprincess]

well i hope you guys are right about the sequel not going to DT studios, b/c thats 1 of the worse things they could do. But a sequel made by the original team would mean that one of their current projects would have to be stalled (b/c it wouldnt be a good idea for them to wait so long to get it started) or they will have to hire extra crew. I cant see the later happening when they know they have a whole staff of cgi animators already employed & again they will be finishing up an older franchise soon.

As for sequel ideas, yes to more Hans, no to powers for Anna. I just... think Anna doesnt need that.

[Marce82]

Well... why no powers to Anna? They claimed ELsa's powers were from birth. Wouldnt it make sense that both sisters have powers since they both came from the same parents?

And I reiterate my mention of "balance of nature"

[Warm Regards]

But as I mentioned before, can Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and co. come back for the sequel, or is Disney going to make them direct Giants or other non-sequels? If they're going to be asked to do two films at once, I fear quality will be lacking.

[qindarka]

But as I mentioned before, can Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and co. come back for the sequel, or is Disney going to make them direct Giants or other non-sequels? If they're going to be asked to do two films at once, I fear quality will be lacking.

I thought Giants was already being directed by Nathan Greno. I'm pretty sure they won't need to direct two films at once.

[RayCRP]

Well... why no powers to Anna? They claimed ELsa's powers were from birth. Wouldnt it make sense that both sisters have powers since they both came from the same parents?

And I reiterate my mention of "balance of nature"

Because even though the final film varies significantly from the source material, Frozen is still very obviously inspired by The Snow Queen. In some countries, it's still even called The Snow Queen. Introducing the element of fire magic incontestably bastardizes the Anderson tale by orders of magnitude worse than what Disney did with the original Pocahontas. The potential backlash is something even Disney isn't stupid enough to want to weather.

And yes, Greno is directing Giants. Disney doesn't announce and begin working on movies, and then hire its first director halfway through the project. The directors and producers are essential to the production. Once Disney knew they wanted a Jack and the Beanstalk project, they brought in Greno to work on it. Will he still be the director upon the film's release? Most likely, but possibly not. But he's working on it at the moment.