Elsa might finally be meeting her match in Frozen 3.
Speaking with Collider's Steve Weintraub at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Disney Animation chief Jared Bush revealed that the upcoming sequel will introduce a new villain whose powers could suprass Elsa's. And while the character’s identity remains under wraps, the actress bringing her to life has already been spending time in the recording booth.
“And we have a brand-new character coming in, a new villain, into the world of Frozen, and someone who may be more powerful than Elsa,” Bush teased, hinting at the new threat for Anna and Elsa's next adventure. “So, lots going on.”
Bush stopped short of revealing the villain’s abilities or who will voice her. Asked about a casting announcement, he offered only that “we’ve already recorded her multiple times” and told fans to “stay tuned.”
Fans who attended Disney’s D23 event already got a taste of that encounter. According to Deadline’s footage report, Anna and Kristoff discover Elsa examining a mysterious stone on a dock on their wedding night. It appears to open a portal to a snowy dimension, where they encounter an unfriendly figure seemingly sporting short black hair and a cape. Her face remained hidden, leaving another mystery for the sequel to unravel.
The new arrival won’t be the only major development awaiting the sisters. Frozen 3 will also pick up where one of the previous movie’s happiest moments left off, with Anna and Kristoff preparing to tie the knot following his proposal.
“I’d say that, if you remember the end of Frozen 2, Kristoff finally proposed to Anna. This movie starts with their wedding,” Bush explained. “So, not a whole lot of time has passed between those. How much time? You’ll discover in the film.”
The wedding will also provide the setting for one of the sequel’s new musical numbers. Bush described a song heard around the ceremony as “spectacular,” although he wouldn’t reveal whether it was written specifically for the happy couple.
Returning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez were approximately five songs into the project at the time of the interview, with work underway on what Bush described as one of the movie’s most emotional numbers.
Between the wedding and a villain who could challenge Elsa’s powers, the sequel has plenty to work with. For now, though, Disney is keeping the connection between those storylines to itself.
Frozen 3 opens in theaters on November 24, 2027.
The original Frozen followed Anna’s quest to reconnect with Elsa after her sister’s powers plunged Arendelle into an eternal winter. Frozen 2 expanded their world as the sisters uncovered the truth about their family’s past and the origins of Elsa’s magic. Both became massive box office hits, earning approximately $1.28 billion and $1.45 billion worldwide, respectively, giving Disney’s third installment a tough act to follow.