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Frozen 3: Original Director Jennifer Lee Not Returning for Sequel

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One key creator will not be returning for Frozen 3. On Friday, The Wrap confirmed that original Frozen director Jennifer Lee is not involved with the upcoming third film, which was first properly confirmed earlier this year. Lee announced the news during the ongoing Annecy Animation Festival. While Lee will not be directing or co-directing the new Frozen, she will seemingly be advising or mentoring on the project.

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“I can’t say where we are [with Frozen 3],” Lee explained. “All our stories are driven by the artists in the studio. Where we’re going with Frozen did not come from me. It came from an incredible person. That’s a new piece, I’ve told no one. And I’ve been blown away by it and I’m just having a blast with that team,”

“I’m doing what I do with all the other projects,” Lee said. “It’s really fun on Frozen,โ€ฆcause we’ve lived the world for awhile together and a lot of the artists in the studio grew up with that film too, both of them, and have been there the whole wayโ€ฆThey kinda own them as much as anyone else.”

What wouldย Frozen 3ย be about?

The prospect of a thirdย Frozenย movie,ย in particular, has been hyped up ever sinceย Frozen 2‘s 2019 debut. As those tied to the franchise hinted in the years that followed, there was definitely a desire to return to the story of Anna, Elsa, and company.

“We get asked that question a lot,” producerย Peter Del Vechoย explained during a press conference for the Disney+ย Once Upon a snowmanย shorts in 2020. “I mean, clearly there’s a real passion for the stories for the sisters, and for the whole family. But, right now we’re focused on other things, I’mย focused onย Raya and the Last Dragon. [Frozenย co-director Jennifer Lee] is focused on running the studio, but we still love these characters.”

Frozen 3ย won’t happen unless there’s a reason forย Frozen 3ย to exist,” Olaf voice actor Josh Gadย said in a 2021 interview. “I trust this team with all my heart to believe that unless they have an amazing idea, there’s just no need. But I also know that the second they do have that idea, they’ll be the first ones to say, ‘Let’s do it.’ But right now, noย Frozen 3.”

Are you excited for a new Frozen sequel? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!