With Frozen 2 now available to watch on Disney+, here's what we know so far about when Disney could release Frozen 3. Walt Disney Animation Studios created one of the most popular animated films of all-time in 2013 with the release of the first Frozen. The film introduced audiences to sisters Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) and the magical world they live in. With catchy songs and a great story, Frozen earned over $1.2 billion at the box office, but Disney took its time creating a sequel. Frozen 2 was released in late 2019 to a more mixed response, but outperformed its predecessor at the box office - earning $1.4 billion.
The story of Frozen 2 picked up years after the first film with Elsa now the Queen of Arendelle. When Arendelle no longer becomes a safe place to live, she begins to hear a mysterious sound. Joined by Anna, Olaf (Josh Gad), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), and Sven the Reindeer, the group travel to an enchanted forest to learn the truth about Arendelle's past and themselves. By the conclusion of Frozen 2, Elsa has realized that she is meant to live her life elsewhere and names Anna the new Queen of Arendelle. This ending leaves the door open for Frozen 3, but when could it be released in theaters?
Disney waited more than a year after Frozen's release to announce a sequel, so a Frozen 3 announcement may not come until 2021. The studio also waited several more years to confirm Frozen 2's 2019 release date. If Frozen 3 follows a similar development schedule, then it is possible the movie won't be released until 2025. However, the continued success of the franchise may result in Disney speeding up the process by a year and releasing Frozen 3 in late 2024. In any case, it should be expected that Frozen 3 will receive a Thanksgiving holiday release just like the last two entries in the franchise.
At this point, Disney has yet to announce that Frozen 3 is happening. Co-directors and writers Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck have not officially been hired to return, which could prove to be more difficult with Lee now the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Lee's position with the studio could allow her to still oversee the development of the film, either with another director joining Buck or him solely leading the production. Both have stated that Frozen 2 feels like the end of a complete story, but wouldn't rule out the chances of a third entry.
With Frozen 2 becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of all-time, it is difficult to believe that Frozen 3 won't eventually be made. The popularity of the franchise has not decreased and Disney may want to release the third installment before kids who grew up with the first two films are no longer interested in Anna and Elsa's stories. Now that Frozen 2 is streaming early on Disney+, the studio might be even more inclined to push forward with Frozen 3 details if it draws high viewership numbers.