No Sequel to Disney's "Frozen" - Yet

Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn surprised some folks when he told Bloomberg TV the other day that not only is a "Frozen" sequel not being created or written or cast, it "isn't even being discussed."

"Frozen" is a billion-dollar film. The wait to see the Princesses Anna and Elsa at the Norway Pavilion in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida can stretch for four hours. That's a long time for a young fan to wait, but they are up to the task when "Frozen" is involved. Perhaps at some point, they should just start singing "Let It Go"?

Any other studio would be working up a sequel to "Frozen" right now. It would clear a cool half-billion dollars even if it were completely worthless. But Disney is different - it took them 30 years to do something as a follow-up to "Cinderella," and "Cinderella 2: Dreams Come True" wasn't really worth the wait. Disney probably still makes more on sales and merchandising of the original than on the follow-up to "Cinderella." So they know what they're doing and have a long history to guide them. The Disney brand is what matters.

But facts are facts. "Frozen" is the highest-grossing animated film ... ever. "Shrek 2"? Blown away. "Toy Story 3"? Left in the dust. The most powerful word in Hollywood these days? Sequel.

So, what exactly is Disney waiting for?

Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn.

Horn said first things first. They are working on getting the musical to Broadway and other venues first.

Disney has a lot on its plate right now. There is another possible "Pirates of Caribbean" sequel that apparently is being discussed, and "Star Wars: Episode VII" looms on the horizon for December 2015 release. Rumor has it that even "Wreck-It Ralph" is getting a sequel soon.

Apparently, the coming "Star Wars" film already has been cast by director J.J. Abrams. Horn did say that the next three "Star Wars" films will be released in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Disney has a tendency to release one major feature film per year, and since it takes four or five years from start to finish to make an animated feature film, it could be 2020 before "Frozen 2" appears - if then.

Update: the Disney sequel to "Frozen," titled "Frozen II," was released in 2019.

2020