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Moana 2 has entered the prestigious league of movies whose films have crossed the $1 billion mark in box office earnings. The film, starring the voices of Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho, joined the ranks of Disney’s 2024 box office animated hit, Inside Out 2 and Marvels Deadpool & Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Related: The Top-Grossing Movies At The Box Office Every Year Since 1977

The 2023 summer smash Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, propelled Greta Gerwig into the rankings as the second female director to break global and US Box Office Records. Director Jennifer Lee achieved this milestone for Disney’s Frozen II co-directing alongside Chris Buck.

Related: The Highest-Grossing Animated Films Of All Time At The Box Office

Among the elite list of 57 billion-dollar grossing films are sequels, Disney remakes, and iconic franchises such as Star Wars, Avatar, James Bond, The Lord of the Rings, the Marvel Cinematic Universe,...

Hong Won-ki’s Perfect Girl, the 2023 Black List screenplay about the launch of a new K-pop supergroup starring Adeline Rudolph and Arden Cho, has secured a swathe of pre-sales for US outfit Upgrade.

Pitched as ‘Scream meets Black Swan’, the thriller has sold to Italy (Rai Cinema), Australia/New Zealand (Transmission Films), Latin America and South Africa (Sun Distribution), Cis (Arna), Benelux (18K), Spain (SelectaVision), Poland (Best Film), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Aqs), Turkey (Cosmo Blue), Portugal (Cinemundo), Philippines (Pioneer), India (PVR), and Baltics (Acme).

Production on the Los Angeles-set story is scheduled to commence later this year in Los Angeles and Thailand.

Grab a coconut-flavored beverage and prepare to dance because Disney’s Moana 2 comes to digital platforms today, January 28! Moana and Maui’s latest adventure swings onto digital retailers, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, before arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on March 18.

While the digital release brings the third highest-grossing film of 2024 to homes across the globe, the physical release comes packed with hours of exclusive bonus content to take the viewing experience further than ever before. Do you want to sing along to the movie’s catchy tunes, check out deleted scenes, and explore featurettes? The physical release has you covered with many options to enhance the fun. Oh, and for collectors, the 4K Uhd will be available in a collectible edition Steelbook with custom artwork and packaging.

Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years after the first film’s...

Josh Gad explains why one Olaf scene had to be changed for Frozen II. Known for his adorable song "In Summer" in 2013's Frozen, Olaf is the jovial snowman in the Frozen movies. Gad, who has performed on Broadway, contributed his vocal talents to Olaf for the movie. He is joined by a talented Frozen voice cast including Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, and Ciarán Hinds. Gad is set to reprise his snowman role in Frozen 3, which is set for release in 2027.

In his memoir In Gad We Trust (via Entertainment Weekly), Gad explains how a key Olaf scene from Frozen II had to be rewritten. According to the actor, Frozen II's original Olaf death scene was "brutal," and Gad himself even struggled to get through it in the recording booth. After a test screening, Gad asked director Jennifer Lee how she thought it went, and she...

Do you want to build a snowman? How about a great relationship with your therapist? In his new memoir In Gad We Trust, Frozen actor Josh Gad says Olaf’s original death scene in Frozen 2 was “brutal.” It was so brutal that the film’s writer, Jennifer Lee, was told to change it lest she make the children cry eternal tears of sadness.

“Jenn and I started recording the dialogue and I couldn’t get through it without sobbing. Those first recordings were brutal, and I remember feeling that we were doing something that was going to pack a serious punch,” Gad says in his new book about breaking down in the studio during production.

When Gad asked Lee how the first test screening went, Lee could not bring herself to lie. She informed Gad and other cast members that, while adults enjoyed the emotional scene, it left kids “very confused and very,...

Frozen's Elsa comes to life in a new cosplay, which recreates her ice powers. Released in 2013 and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the Disney animated adventure film follows Princess Anna (Kristen Bell) as she embarks on a mission to recover her sister, Elsa (Idina Menzel), whose ice powers have plunged the kingdom of Arendelle into an eternal winter. The film was a major hit and was followed by the even more successful Frozen 2, and both Anna and Elsa are now set to return once more in the announced Frozen 3.

While the wait continues for Frozen 3, cosplayer Grimilde Malatesta recreates Elsa's look from the "Let It Go" sequence from the original movie in an impressive cosplay. The cosplay features a screen-accurate blue Elsa gown, along with the character's blonde hairstyle and makeup. The cosplay even includes a digital ice effect reminiscent of Elsa's powers in the movie.

While many movies focus on a single main character, there have been so many other great releases that have multiple protagonists. Whether it’s two-handers with dual lead roles or an ensemble movie packed with endless character introductions and bit parts, this variety in filmmaking makes for incredibly engaging viewing and allows for a type of storytelling that’s not possible when it’s just focused on one main character. In some cases, it can be difficult for viewers to even agree on who the main character is, as each cast member adds something vital to the narrative.

Many of the best movies ever made featured multiple main characters and had a broad focus across several different subplots. There are plenty of amazing directors, like Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson, who have excelled in making great movies that feature lots of main characters who each complement and inform the other.

Following the biggest Black Friday ever at the North American box office with an estimated $108 million ($54.5 million was contributed by Disney Animation's Moana 2), business looks incredibly strong over the Thanksgiving weekend. 

Five-day estimates for the Moana sequel have raised to $215 million - $220 million; its three-day haul is expected to be around $140 million, the second-best debut of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's career after Fast & Furious 7's $147.1 million opening.

Moana 2 has also set a new five-day Thanksgiving record, beating The Super Mario Bros. Movie's $204.6 million. 

The other two big movies contributing to this record-breaking haul are Wicked and Gladiator II. The former is eyeing $118 million over five days, ensuring it's broken a few records of its own.

After the movie's success, the expectation is that we'll see a greater number of musicals brought to the big screen...and that studios might finally start marketing them as such.

Following the biggest Black Friday ever at the North American box office with an estimated $108 million ($54.5 million was contributed by Disney Animation's Moana 2), business looks incredibly strong over the Thanksgiving weekend. 

Five-day estimates for the Moana sequel have raised to $215 million - $220 million; its three-day haul is expected to be around $140 million, the second-best debut of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's career after Fast & Furious 7's $147.1 million opening.

Moana 2 has also set a new five-day Thanksgiving record, beating The Super Mario Bros. Movie's $204.6 million. 

The other two big movies contributing to this record-breaking haul are Wicked and Gladiator II. The former is eyeing $118 million over five days, ensuring it's broken a few records of its own.

After the movie's success, the expectation is that we'll see a greater number of musicals brought to the big screen...and that studios might finally start marketing them as such.

Reviews for Moana 2 haven't been anywhere near as positive as 2016's Moana but that won't stop people flocking to theaters this Thanksgiving weekend.

The sequel opened with $13.8 million in preview screenings on Tuesday, breaking an impressive box office record. Not only is this by far the biggest preview number ever for a Walt Disney Animation title, but it's also the second biggest haul for any animated feature behind only Pixar's Incredibles 2 (which earned $18.5 million in 2018).

For comparison, Inside Out 2 scored $13 million in Thursday previews earlier this year before scoring a $154 million opening weekend. Toy Story 4 made $12 million in 2019 ahead of a $121 million three-day debut, while Frozen II earned $8.5 million the same year before going on to make $130 million the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Based on current estimates, Moana 2 could rise as high as $135 million - $145 million over its first five days in theaters. That would...

The review embargo for Disney Animation's Moana 2 has just lifted and the first wave of verdicts are good but definitely not great. The sequel started life as a Disney+ TV series before Disney CEO Bob Iger decided it should become a money-making feature and it appears this follow-up to the 2016 classic is somewhat lacking.

We'll start with the trades; in Variety's review, it's said that Moana 2 "is an okay movie, an above-average kiddie roller-coaster, and a piece of pure product in a way that the first 'Moana,' at its best, transcended." The Hollywood Reporter explains, "Moana 2 builds impressive action sequences on a relatively weak story...[it's] a musical where Lin-Manuel Miranda’s absence is unfortunately felt."

The songs not being as good as the first movie is a recurring theme throughout nearly every review, though there are said to be some catchy numbers.

The Wrap may...

Wicked Box Office (North America): Debut Weekend Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Wicked has created history by beating Frozen’s debut weekend collection and even goes closer to Frozen 2’s numbers. The numbers are exceptional, and it is one of the best debuts of all time for a musical adaptation. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who are in the lead roles, have been widely praised. The musical fantasy also entered the list of top-10 biggest openings for November releases. Scroll below for the deets.

Frozen is a Disney animated musical fantasy film released in 2013. It is inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s 1844 fairy tale, The Snow Queen. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee directed it. It remained the highest-grossing animated film until The Lion King came out in 2019. It won many accolades, including two Academy Awards.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s musical fantasy opened in the theatres on Friday.

Yesterday, Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson joined stars, filmmakers and special guests at the Lanikūhonua Cultural Institute in Kapolei, Hawaii for Moana 2's world premiere.

The event kicked off with a special performance led by Tiana Nonosina Liufau, Kayla Faʻamaligi, and Polynesian creatives honouring the Pacific peoples, cultures, and traditions that gave voice to the heart of the Moana story. A few critics were also in attendance, meaning we now have some early reactions.

Of course, the fact that at least some of the reporters listed below were flown out to Hawaii by Disney for this splashy event means that, as with most social reactions, you should probably take them with a pinch of salt.

It's also worth pointing out that Disney appears less confident in the sequel because the review embargo doesn't lift until the day before Moana 2 arrives in theaters. That's extremely late for one of the studio's high-profile movies.

Today was the 2024 Q4 earnings call. During the call, Bob Iger boasted about Disney’s massive leaps this quarter and year. Much of this was bolstered by the success of “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The media, like Deadline, are praising Bob Iger and giving him all the credit for the turnaround. But was it him?

Deadline posted, “In executive commentary around the numbers this morning, Iger and CFO Hugh Johnson cited renewed creative strength, “a result of the extensive work we began two years ago to restore creativity to the center of the company.’ Iger rejoined the company as chief executive almost exactly two years ago, replacing his ousted, hand-picked successor Bob Chapek.”

The media credits Iger for these wins, except many of them were not under him; they were under Bob Chapek.

Let’s focus on the two big films that helped the company achieve this huge 39% jump.

Moana 2 had an unusual path to the big screen. The upcoming movie is a sequel to Disney's 2016 hit, which was nominated for two Oscars and grossed $687.2 million at the global box office against a budget of roughly $150 million. The new movie features returning voice actors Aulii Cravalho as Moana, the daughter of a village chief, and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, a self-centered demigod. Although the songs for the original animated movie musical were co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, his collaborators Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foai were joined by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear for the new outing.

The upcoming Moana 2 is currently on track to be a major box office success. In fact, it has the highest first-day ticket pre-sales broke of any 2024 animated movie, outpacing even The Wild Robot, which is slowly and steadily climbing toward the $300 million milestone worldwide, and the Pixar sequel Inside Out 2, which...

Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Disney Music Group today announced that the Moana 2 soundtrack will be available on November 22, 2024. “Beyond,” the end credit track from the anticipated film, is available today.

Written by Grammy Award-winning songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (Barlow & Bear), “Beyond” perfectly encapsulates Moana’s fearless sense of adventure and connecting her island beyond its shores. “Beyond” is now available on all streaming platforms, such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.

The Moana 2 soundtrack on vinyl is also available for pre-order at Amazon, Disney Music Emporium, Target, and Walmart. The CD is available for pre-order at Amazon, Disney Music Emporium, and Target.

In addition to Barlow & Bear, Moana 2 marks the return of Billboard Music Award- and American Music Award-winning composer Opetaia Foa’i and Grammy®-winning composer Mark Mancina, who composed music for the original Moana.

Barlow & Bear commented on “Beyond”: “During the process of writing this,...

Was Elsa created to be the villain in Frozen? (Photo Credit – Hotstar)

Once upon a time, Elsa was not the beloved ice queen we know today. Initially, the character was envisioned as a straight-up villain—a self-proclaimed Snow Queen who commanded an army of snow monsters. Producer Peter Del Vecho revealed that early drafts of Frozen had Elsa as pure evil, much like the original Hans Christian Andersen tale. But the creative team realized they needed to pivot, leading to the iconic story we adore.

The Original Concept

In the film’s first iterations, Anna and Elsa were not even sisters. Anna wasn’t a princess at all. Elsa’s character was initially jilted at the altar, prompting her to freeze her heart to avoid love forever. Talk about a frosty disposition! Del Vecho explained how the initial storyline included a prophecy about a “ruler with a frozen heart” who would bring ruin to Arendelle.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has announced that Moana 2 tickets are now on sale. To mark the occasion, the studio has also revealed a new featurette and posters for IMAX, Dolby, RealD, 4Dx, and Fandango.

Opening in theaters on November 27, 2024, the all-new feature film reunites Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers.

After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

Disney is also asking fans in the U.S. if they have what it takes to join Moana’s crew. A sweeping online contest encourages fans to show off their skills, creating videos on Instagram and TikTok, responding to one of four fun prompts: Can you dance like Moana? Give us your best Chee Hoo!

The frozen castle scene took 30 animators about 9 months to complete. (Photo Credit – Hotstar)

Let’s rewind to that jaw-dropping moment in Frozen when Elsa, caught up in her icy transformation, builds that dazzling ice castle. It took 30 animators and nine months to pull off that breathtaking scene. Yep, you read that right—nine months! For a single scene. And it wasn’t just any scene—it was the most significant technical challenge in the entire movie.

The film’s director, Jennifer Lee, spilled the beans, explaining how “it took about 30 hours to render just one frame.” Imagine that—30 hours for just one slice of the magic. And get this: the scene had to be crafted on 4,000 computers, rendering one frame at a time. The team behind Elsa’s castle? Absolute legends.

Elsa’s Castle: An Icy Marvel

Why did this scene take so long? Well, it’s not just a...

Chee hoo! Moana, Maui, Heihei, Pua the pig, and the dart-wielding Kakamora have returned for Disney Animation's Moana 2. Thanks to Toonado.com, we have a new trailer and poster for the animated musical which started life as a Disney+ TV series.

Despite its small screen origins - Disney CEO Bob Iger decided the show would work better as a feature - the visuals are gorgeous and this looks like a suitably epic adventure for the title character. While box office revenue was another factor in its evolution, this does look like a worthy follow-up to the 2016 hit.

The sequel reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has released a new promo for the highly anticipated Moana 2, which gives us a first look at the new villain. Voiced by Awhimai Fraser, the mysterious new Moana 2 villain is called Matangi.

The epic animated musical, which opens in theaters on November 27, 2024, reunites Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers.

After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

The voice cast also features returning stars Rachel House (Gramma Tala), Temuera Morrison (Chief Tui), and Nicole Scherzinger (Sina), as well as Hualālai Chung, David Fane, and Rose Matafeo as Moana’s new crew members Moni, Kele and Loto, respectively.

Gerald Ramsey voices Moana’s ancestor, Tautai...

When Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger parted ways with the company in 2020, he was succeeded by former Parks Chairman Bob Chapek. Unfortunately for Chapek, he had to lead the company through an unprecedented global pandemic and company upheavals, and was quickly replaced by the return of Bob Iger.

Since his return to the company, Iger has been in a bit of a hot seat, facing criticism for comments made during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes while trying to turn around a series of disappointing film releases and competing with the upcoming opening of Epic Universe at the Universal Orlando Resort. As the company nears three years since Iger's return, it is now facing the daunting task of trying to pick his new successor.

With a series of wins at the box office and awards shows and several large-scale projects announced for the theme parks, the Walt Disney Company seems...

A new TV spot offers a sneak peek at Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana 2, including a new song, “We’re Back,” from the film. The epic animated musical, which opens in theaters on November 27, 2024, reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. A new poster is also available.

The voice cast also features returning stars Rachel House (Gramma Tala), Temuera Morrison (Chief Tui) and Nicole Scherzinger (Sina), as well as Hualālai Chung, David Fane and Rose Matafeo as Moana’s new crew members Moni, Kele and Loto, respectively. Awhimai Fraser voices mysterious new character Matangi; Gerald Ramsey plays Moana’s ancestor, Tautai...

Walt Disney Animation Studios has released a new Moana 2 poster and TV spot, which includes the new song, “We’re Back,” from the film.

The epic animated musical, which opens in theaters on November 27, 2024, reunites Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers.

After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

The voice cast also features returning stars Rachel House (Gramma Tala), Temuera Morrison (Chief Tui), and Nicole Scherzinger (Sina), as well as Hualālai Chung, David Fane, and Rose Matafeo as Moana’s new crew members Moni, Kele and Loto, respectively.

Awhimai Fraser voices the mysterious new character Matangi; Gerald Ramsey plays Moana’s ancestor, Tautai Vasa; and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda lends...

Quick Links The Latest Frozen 3 News Frozen 3 Release Date Frozen 3 Cast Frozen 3's Story Frozen 3: Further News & Info

Disneys Frozen 2 received mixed reviews, but the box office results were enough reason for Disney to add Frozen 3 to their slate of upcoming movies. For Frozen 2, screenwriter Jennifer Lee once again co-directed with Chris Buck, using the sequel to open up the characters' horizons to lands beyond Arendelle. This change in the narrative structure was somewhat surprising for a high-profile Disney sequel, but proved the studio wasn't above taking risks despite pumping out so many "safe" sequels.

While Frozen 2 doesnt feature a traditional villain like Frozen's loathsome Prince Hanz, it does build to a conclusion that provides spiritual clarity for both the people of Arendelle and the Northuldra tribe. Unlike Frozen's declarative anthem Let It Go, the sequels theme song,...

Disney Animation Studios is undergoing a huge shift. Will a change in leadership be able to restore the brand?

As many know, Disney has had a rough go at the box office for the last couple of years. 2023 was marked with several box office disappointments like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and even the once unstoppable MCU faltered. They have done better in 2024 with Inside Out 2 and Deadpool and Wolverine and hope for Moana 2 to be a big smash.

There have already been shifts for the live-action portion of the studio, and now the animation department is following suit. This past week, we saw the announcement that Jennifer Lee will be stepping down after six years as Chief Creative Officer, with Jared Bush (who co-directed Zootopia) taking over.

Lee issued a statement of her gratitude for the job.

I am so grateful to Bob and Alan...

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 Frozen, which she wrote and co-directed with long-term Disney animator Chris Buck. The movie was a box office success, grossing 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 2, after which she was appointed chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Despite the success of Frozen 2, and following her new role for Disney, Lee initially ruled herself out of a return to the Frozen franchise. Still, according to reports from IndieWire, the A Wrinkle in Time writer has stepped down as Disney Animation's chief creative officer to return exclusively to filmmaking and direct the next two Frozen sequels.

There has been a shake-up at Walt Disney Animation today. Jennifer Lee, the chief creative officer, is stepping down to work on Frozen 3 and Frozen 4. Jared Bush will replace Lee in that position.

(Image Credit D23)

Bush is known for Zootopia and Encanto. He also wrote the original Moana film and co-wrote the upcoming Moana 2 sequel. Both Lee and Bush are executive producers on the upcoming Moana 2 film.

Lee has been the chief creative officer for the past six years. So, while films like Frozen 2 performed well, Wish and Strange World did not.

It’s unclear if this is a demotion for Lee or if she is there to push the crunch on Frozen 3 and Frozen 4. She will be writing and directing Frozen 3 but only writing Frozen 4.

Here is what Jennifer Lee said about her time as Walt Disney Animation’s Cco,

“I am...

Jennifer Lee, the co-director of the original “Frozen,” has stepped down as Disney Animation’s chief creative officer after six years and will exclusively return to filmmaking to direct the next two “Frozen” sequels. Lee will be succeeded in the role by filmmaker Jared Bush, co-writer and co-director of “Encanto” and the Oscar-winning “Zootopia,” and co-writer of “Moana,” Disney announced on Thursday.

Lee is currently writing and directing “Frozen 3,” which is set for release on November 24, 2027, and is also writing “Frozen 4” with Marc Smith (“Frozen 2” animator). He currently serves as co-writer of “Moana 2” (November 27) and writer and director of “Zootopia 2”. He’s also writing the live-action “Moana” movie.

Bush will report to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, while Oscar-winning producer Clark Spencer continues as president, Walt Disney Animation Studios.

“Jared Bush is an incredible filmmaker and a talented executive who’s been a prominent creative force...

Director-writer Jared Bush is replacing Jennifer Lee as chief creative officer of the Walt Disney Animation Studios as Lee returns to filmmaking full time at the company and stewards the Frozen franchise, Disney announced Thursday. Bush will report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman, effective immediately.

Lee, who had been in the top gig for six years, will direct and write Frozen 3. She’s also set to write and executive produce Frozen 4.

Her departure as Cco isn’t a complete surprise. During her tenure, the storied animation studio suffered major misses, including 2022’s Strange World and last year’s Wish. But she wasn’t without her wins: Encanto won an Oscar and was a major commercial success after finding its groove. And the company’s upcoming slate includes the highly anticipated sequel Moana 2, out in theaters Nov. 27.

Both Bush and Lee are responsible for billion-dollar films for the studio (Bush with Zootopia,...

As Disney readies the sequels to its uber-grossing $1.75 billion Frozen franchise, Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee is segueing from her position to direct and write Frozen 3 and executive produce Frozen 4 with Marc Smith. Effective immediately, Oscar-winning Encanto filmmaker Jared Bush has been named Cco of Walt Disney Animation Studios, reporting to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.

Lee has served as Cco for the division since 2018. Thirty-year Disney veteran and Oscar-winning producer Clark Spencer continues as President, Walt Disney Animation Studios.

“Jared Bush is an incredible filmmaker and a talented executive who’s been a prominent creative force at Disney Animation for the past decade, and I am thrilled that he’ll be taking the reins of this storied studio,” Bergman said. “I also want to thank Jennifer Lee for her passionate leadership of the studio over the past several years – she’s made an indelible...

Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is reshifting her focus back to filmmaking, stepping out of her role as the studio’s Cco to focus fully on writing and directing “Frozen 3” and “Frozen 4.” Jared Bush, who won an Academy Award for “Encanto” and is one of the writers and executive producers for “Moana 2,” has been named the studio’s Cco.

Lee is writing and directing “Frozen 3” and writing (and exec producing) “Frozen 4” with Marc Smith — the sequels to Disney Animation’s 2013 “Snow Queen”-inspired cultural hit “Frozen,” for which she served as writer/director. The movie made $1.3 billion worldwide and earned two Oscars, for best animated feature and for earworm song “Let It Go.”

Longtime Disney creative Bush won an Oscar for 2021’s “Encanto,” for which he was a writer and director. Earlier, Bush was an executive producer of “Raya and the Last Dragon,...

Walt Disney Animation Studios leadership is getting redrawn.

Jennifer Lee, the company’s chief creative officer and the director of “Frozen” and “Frozen II,” is stepping down and returning to filmmaking full time. Taking her place effectively immediately is Jared Bush, who is currently writing and directing “Zootopia 2” for the studio. He is reporting to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman

As Cco, Bush will oversee the creative output of the animation studio, including its films, series and associated projects. On “Zootopia 2,” TheWrap can exclusively reveal that Byron Howard is also directing the sequel alongside Bush — they both serve as full directors on the film.

Lee will be directing and writing on “Frozen 3” and writing “Frozen 4” with Marc Smith. She will also serve as executive producer on “Frozen 4.”

Clark Spencer continues as President, Walt Disney Animation Studios.

“I am so grateful to Bob and Alan for supporting my...

Josh Gad regrets using his own voice for Olaf in 'Frozen'.The 43-year-old actor voices the loveable snowman in the Disney franchise but he wishes he had come up with a different accent for the character because his own voice is so recognisable he cannot escape 'Frozen' fans.Speaking at Fan Expo Canada this month, he said in a clip shared to TikTok: "If I could do it all over again."I would not have lent that snowman my voice. I would have created a different voice."On his encounters with the young fans of the movies, he said: "It's very weird being in a supermarket and having a little child go like this (turns head slowly)."That was my first big mistake."I try to give it to them when I can."Josh has portrayed Olaf in the 2013 animated blockbuster and its 2019 sequel.Olaf very nearly got culled from the movie.

How did Moana 2 get put together so quickly? Find out how it went from a TV show to a big-screen sequel and how the story was changed!

Sequels to Disney animated films are nothing new. The company went wild for direct-to-video sequels in the 1990s and 2000s with varying results. They're sticking more to big-screen sequels and huge hits like Frozen 2 and Inside Out 2 with more planned.

Usually, an animated movie takes years to put together and a lot of care is put into it. It's why all those direct-to-video sequels are disliked; they lacked the time for the animators to put care into them, and they looked much cheaper than the big screen efforts.

That's why fans were astounded when, earlier this year, Disney announced Moana 2 was coming to theaters. It wasn't that a sequel to the 2016 hit was a surprise. That movie was a...

Moana 2—Disney's surprise sequel to the popular 2016 film—did have to go pretty far to reach its big-screen destination, where it will surface this coming November. The Polynesia-set followup began its life as a planned series for Disney+, which the company announced in 2020 before deciding to retool the material into...

Moana is returning for another adventure in the upcoming sequel Moana 2!

While Disney will be launching a new movie, it was actually supposed to be a TV series for Disney+.

In a new interview, Walt Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee and one of the directors of Moana 2, David Derrick Jr, are revealing why the story was shifted from a show to a movie.

Keep reading to find out more…

“It became apparent very early on that this wanted to be on the big screen,” David shared with EW for their fall movie preview. “It felt like a groundswell within the whole studio.”

“Supporting the theaters is something that we talked about,” Jennifer added. “We love Disney+, but it will go there eventually. You could really put it anywhere, but these artists create stories that they want to see on the big screen and that we...

Anya Taylor-Joy has quickly established herself as one of the most talented actors working in Hollywood today, largely due to acclaimed performances in The Queen's Gambit, Last Night in Soho, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and, dare we say it, The New Mutants.

There were rumours a while ago that Taylor-Joy had been eyed to play The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Silver Surfer and, while that didn't pan out, we'd be shocked if she doesn't board another major superhero franchise somewhere down the line.

Time will tell, but the actor recently told Vogue Hong Kong (via Toonado.com) that there's a very specific Disney Princess she'd like to bring to life in live-action.

"Oh! I would love to do a musical because I’m a bit addicted to hard work," Taylor-Joy said when the publication pointed out her love of Disney. "I like having an impossible mountain to climb. The...

Anya Taylor-Joy has revealed she wants to star in a live-action remake of Frozen, confirming which character she would want to portray in the adaptation. The animated franchise is one of Disney's most successful in the last decade, with both movies making over $1 billion each at the global box office. In 2023, Frozen 3 was announced, with a fourth movie also getting confirmed later on. The continued expansion of the franchise shows how much faith the company has in it, even 11 years after the first one was released.

Speaking with Vogue Hong Kong (via Deadline), Taylor-Joy revealed that she wants to star as Elsa in a potential Frozen live-action remake. The actor explained how she wants to star in a musical, believing an adaptation of the acclaimed animated film would be the perfect challenge for herself. Check out what Taylor-Joy had to say below:

I really want to do a musical...

If Disney gets to work on a live-action Frozen, Anya Taylor-Joy has suggested that she will be at the front of the audition line for Elsa.

The Queen’s Gambit and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga actress has revealed that her dream Disney or musical role would be as the iconic snow Queen.

In an interview with Vogue Hong Kong, Taylor-Joy said she wanted to tell her siblings’ children that she was Elsa — and shoot ice from her hands.

Per a Google translation, she said: “I really want to do a musical because I’m a little too obsessed with my current job. I love the challenge of completing impossible tasks. I think that’s incredibly motivating for me, so the idea of ​​being able to sing, dance, and act at the same time is really exciting to me.

“I think Frozen is going to be great. Shooting ice cubes...

The biggest unanswered question in the Frozen franchise, the fate of Hans, will be confirmed in either Frozen 3 or 4. Fans can expect a massive expansion of the Frozen world with the upcoming sequels, promising two more epic adventures. Jennifer Lee confirmed that Frozen 3 and 4 are in development, teasing the return of a major character from the first movie.

Frozen 3 has teased the answer to one of its biggest returning character questions, and this theory now sounds correct because of it. The Frozen franchise is set to grow to a scale not yet seen, with Frozen 3 and Frozen 4 having already been announced. This is incredibly exciting for fans of the franchise, as it guarantees that two more epic adventures with Anna and Elsa will be released by Disney in the coming years. However, the sequels may also have some surprising returns, as Frozen 3 is teasing that...

During D23, Disney's ultimate fan expo, a panel revealed some key details about Frozen 3, suggesting that one of the most popular fan theories about Elsa's power may be officially debunked in the third Frozen movie. When the first film premiered in 2013, not even Disney could have predicted Frozen's meteoric success. Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's 1844 fairy tale "The Snow Queen," Frozen centers on sisters Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell). Although the sisters start off as close-knit, an accident with Elsa's ice powers prompts the girls' parents to separate them by isolating Elsa.

Years later, after their parents go missing at sea, Elsa's coronation nears. During the events of 2013's Frozen, Elsa learns to embrace her true self including the good and bad that come with her ice abilities and the sisters reconnect. In the 2019 sequel, Frozen 2, the sisters travel to an enchanted forest...

Frozen 4's release is still far off, but fans can take comfort in the fact that it is likely to arrive sooner than expected. Frozen 3 and Frozen 4 are being developed together, ensuring a cohesive connection and potentially closer release dates. Disney's plan for Frozen 4 means the sequel could be released as soon as 2028 or 2029.

Frozen 4 won't arrive for quite some time, but a recent update alleviates a huge concern about the Disney sequel three years before Frozen 3's release. More Frozen movies were inevitable after Frozen 2's $1.4 billion success, but the follow-ups are taking a surprisingly long time to come to fruition. Frozen 3 is currently slated for a November 2027 release date, which means it will hit theaters eight years after the second movie. And with Frozen 3's release date being tough to accept, it's understandable that viewers might be concerned about Frozen 4.

With the third...

The Frozen franchise continues to be a box office hit with two sequels in development simultaneously. Frozen III is set to release in 2027, while Frozen IV has already been teased. Director Jennifer Lee promises answers to questions like Elsa's powers' origins and Hans' fate in upcoming films.

The Frozen franchise has seen so much success that Disney is now developing two sequels at once. After Frozen (2013) earned $1.28 billion and Frozen II (2019) earned an even larger share with $1.45 billion at the box office, the musical franchise has become a multimedia hit that has seen its characters in TV shows, musicals, video games, and more. The main draw remains the movies, but it will be years before it returns to theaters, as the upcoming Frozen III will be released in 2027. Fortunately, Frozen IV may not be far away.

In a YouTube interview with Fandango, franchise director Jennifer Lee opened up about the...

Walt Disney Studios has a reputation for many things. From changing lives to making dreams come true, it gives life to the fairy tale lifestyle and makes its audience get as close as they can to their fantasy worlds. While there is nothing but happiness on the outside, there have been several alleged concerning patterns linked to the studio that have had many concerns.

A still from Frozen I Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

From being accused of being profit-hungry, to mistreating employees, the studio has had its fair share of controversies. However, a recent update about the Frozen films, which was supposed to be great news, has turned sour for fans.

Disney’s Latest Franchise?

Recently, there has been buzz about the future of one of the most beloved Disney films of all time, and the updates that are coming are not impressing fans in the slightest. The...

Frozen was one of the biggest hits of 2013, and it came with the ear-worm ‘Let it Go.’ Fans of the movie have barely let the song die down yet, and there are already two more upcoming chapters of the movie. However, fans are worried that Disney is making the same mistake that made Jujutsu Kaisen fans hate Mappa.

Elsa in Frozen | Credits: Disney

After the second Frozen movie grossed a worldwide total of $1.453 billion, Disney realized that there was more potential in the franchise. Thus, two more seasons of the movie went under production, but under a peculiar condition that had animators tearing out their hair.

Frozen Director Confirms Frozen 3 and 4 are Simultaneously Under Production Frozen II | Credits: Disney

Jennifer Lee is the chief creative officer of Disney and is also one of the writers and directors of Frozen. In an interview, she spilled the latest details on the...

During Disney’s D23 conference earlier this month, the premiere mouse-eared studio shared its plans for multiple animated sequels, including Moana 2, The Incredibles 3, Toy Story 5, Zootopia 2, and Frozen 3. Disney and Pixar fans worldwide hooted and hollered with each announcement. Now Pixar Cco Pete Docter and Disney Animation’s Jennifer Lee have shared more details about the future, including thoughts about approaching an Inside Out 3 and how the studio is developing Frozen 3 and 4 simultaneously.

Speaking with Fandango about the future, Docter says the response to Inside Out 2 blew him away, and studio members are already considering ideas for the franchise’s future. Docter says that rather than assigning someone to work on the potential project, he’s encouraging specific people at the company to pitch ideas for Inside Out 3, saying, “We’re just like, ‘Okay, well, if we were going to do something, what would it be?...

If Disney Animation felt like it was falling into disrepair in the late 2010s, everything changed in 2013 with the animated feature “Frozen,” which began a newfound renaissance period for Disney that included the success of “Moana.” Collectively, the two “Frozen” films have grossed $2.7 billion worldwide, and “Frozen II” is the 14th highest-earning film of all time. But more is coming, including a “Frozen III” and “Frozen IV.”

Read More: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 New Movies To Watch

Initially due in 2026, according to Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, during one of their many investor calls at the recent D23 Expo, Disney casually revealed a new “Frozen III” release date of 2027, never really explaining the year-long delay.

Continue reading Director Jennifer Lee Confirms ‘Frozen 3’ & ‘4’ Are Being Made At The Same Time at The Playlist.

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Over the weekend, Disney shared some new details about the upcoming Frozen III at the fan-event D23 and shared the first concept art of the upcoming movie. Disney Animation’s Jennifer Lee, who wrote and directed Frozen and Frozen II, also shared that the movie will be released in 2027.

A few days later, Disney officially announced the date that Frozen III will be released in theaters.

Keep reading to find out more…The third installment of the hit franchise will be released in theaters on Nov. 24, 2027, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday!

Frozen was released in 2013 while the sequel was released six years later in 2019.

The third, and fourth, Frozen movies were officially announced last year and at the time, Jennifer Lee teased what fans can expect in the new movies!

Check out all of the other new projects that were also announced...

Get ready to “Let It Go” again as Disney has announced that not one but two big Frozen projects are coming! Find out what and when!

Over a decade after it premiered, Frozen has gone from another Disney animated hit into a full-fledged phenomenon. The original was the highest-grossing animated film ever before Inside Out 2 and Disney has made literally billions off the merchandising. A 2019 sequel only added to that power.

The franchise has since blossomed in so many ways from an Epcot ride to the characters used in the Once Upon a Time TV series to a Broadway musical. So it’s little shock that Disney is planning a third film, which was believed to be coming out in 2026.

Now, Disney has confirmed that Frozen 3 will hit theaters on November 24, 2027. It makes total sense that they picked Thanksgiving weekend, which is a long favorite time for Disney holiday releases,...