It’s been 13 years since Disney’s Frozen (2013) became a cultural phenomenon, introducing audiences to Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and one of the studio’s most successful animated franchises.
The original film earned nearly $1.3 billion worldwide, while its 2019 sequel, Frozen II, brought in another $1.45 billion. Now, with Frozen 3 not arriving in theaters until November 24, 2027, Disney has found yet another way to bring audiences back to its icy kingdom.
The franchise has already expanded well beyond the big screen, inspiring merchandise, a Broadway musical, and major attractions at Disney Parks. Guests can visit World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, as well as Frozen Kingdom at Tokyo DisneySea. Meanwhile, Walt Disney World’s EPCOT is home to the popular Frozen Ever After boat ride.
But Disney’s next Frozen adventure is taking a rather different approach.
New Frozen Series With Original Cast in the Works
According to Deadline, Disney is developing The Real Frozen (working title), a new series from National Geographic and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Combining real wildlife footage from some of the world’s most spectacular frozen landscapes with the magic of Walt Disney Animation Studios, The Real Frozen brings the beloved Frozen franchise into the real world in an entirely different way.
Set across Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, the natural history series will follow real animals as they navigate harsh winters, exploring their relationships, survival strategies, and extraordinary behavior.
And there’s another reason to tune in: the original voice cast is returning. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Jonathan Groff will reprise their respective roles as Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff, guiding viewers through the stories as narrators. Josh Gad will also make special appearances as Olaf.
Frozen Ventures Into the Unknown
Jeff Wilson, director at Silverback Films, which is producing the series for National Geographic, explained the thinking behind the unusual collaboration.
“We know there are extraordinary animal tales out there in the world, and this collaboration gives us the chance to show audiences that the real world of Frozen is every bit as magical as the animated version, with a sense of wonder and even perhaps a wink,” he said.
Courteney Monroe, president, National Geographic Content, said in a statement:
“At National Geographic, we’re passionate about inspiring the next generation through stories kids love and parents trust. Building on the success of our Emmy-winning A REAL BUG’S LIFE and the upcoming THE REAL FINDING NEMO, we’re excited to continue growing The Real franchise with THE REAL FROZEN. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring together Disney’s beloved stories and characters with National Geographic’s boundary-pushing natural history storytelling, introducing kids and families to the incredible wonders of the world and opening the door to a lifetime of discovery.”
Frozen 3 producer Christina Chen added:
“There is no one better than National Geographic to bring viewers a look at the real places in the world that inspired the creation of the Frozen world and its magical wondrous environments. We are thrilled to have our lead characters with our talented cast and original Frozen animators who bring them to life be part of this series.”
This isn’t a Frozen series in the narrative sense, but the combination of real-world locations, wildlife cinematography, and Disney animation will offer fans a very different way to experience the franchise.
The Real Frozen will air on National Geographic before streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. An official premiere date has not yet been announced.
Do you think Disney should make a traditional live-action Frozen remake, or is this real-world approach a more interesting way to revisit the franchise? Let us know in the comments!
