Summary
- The success of Frozen and Frozen II makes it likely that Disney will develop a live-action version of Frozen, but replacing the original cast poses a significant challenge.
- Disney must wait until the animated series is complete before producing a live-action Frozen movie to give audiences time to move on from the original films.
- By creating distance between the animated and live-action versions, Disney can overcome casting challenges and make the live-action remake of Frozen more successful.
The Walt Disney Company has been churning out a relentless number of sequels and live-action versions of some of their most popular animated movies, and Frozen likely won't be immune to the live-action craze. The franchise began with the premiere of the 2013 film Frozen, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," and it quickly became one of Walt Disney Animation Studio's biggest releases. Of course, the company would always try to bank off the first movie's success with sequels. But now that Disney has ventured into other territories, Frozen could be the next story to jump from animation to live-action, even if one significant problem could impede the speed of its development.
Frozen II premiered in 2019 and sured the success of the first film. Whereas Frozen grossed $1.280 billion at the box office, the sequel earned $1.453 billion, making it not only one of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time but also one of the highest-grossing films ever (it's currently thirteenth on the list but peaked at tenth place). So, it's not surprising that Disney would want to continue producing stories set in the world of Arendelle. But if the rumors about a possible live-action Frozen movie are true, the company would have to wait a long time before releasing it due to one challenge.
A Live-Action Frozen Movie's Biggest Challenge Is Replacing The Original Cast
One of the aspects of the Frozen franchise that has made it into the unbelievable success it is today is the cast. Every actor's voice is easily recognizable and often attributed to their character. When some hear Idina Menzel, they think of Elsa, and the same could be said for Kristen Bell as Anna, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff, and Josh Gad as Olaf. However, given that they do not look like their characters in real life, other actors aside from the originals would have to play Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff in a live-action depiction of Frozen. Of course, Olaf would undoubtedly have to be created using special effects so Gad could theoretically still voice the snowman.
It would be incredibly difficult to replace Menzel, Bell, Groff, and Gad on the big screen. Any other actress singing "Let It Go" other than Menzel wouldn't feel right, and it would likely be hard for the audience to get on board with a new cast when they have familiarized themselves with the original one in the past ten years. But there is a simple solution to this challenge that Disney can adhere to if and when they decide to go forward with a live-action Frozen film.
Frozen 2's $1.4 Billion Success Makes It More Shocking That Disney Hasn't Greenlit 2 Big Sequels
Looking at Frozen 2's success at the box office makes it shocking that Disney hasn't already greenlit sequels to two other big beloved animations.
Disney Can't Release A Live-Action Movie Until The Animated Series Ends
The one factor that could help Disney overcome the challenge of finding a cast that could believably replace the original Frozen actors in a live-action project is time. The multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate would have to wait until the animated film series is complete to even approach the idea of translating the story for a live-action movie. That way, the audience can have time between the animated and (still rumored) live-action versions to digest the original films and move on from them.
Frozen 3 and Frozen 4 are currently in the works at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
It's hard to imagine a world where Menzel, Bell, Groff, and Gad aren't working on animated Frozen projects. However, there will come a day when that saga ends, thereby (for better or for worse) opening the door for reboots and live-action tales. Disney must wait until the animated series is over before producing a live-action Frozen movie, or else viewers will constantly compare the new cast to the old one.
Frozen's Original Elsa Backstory Had 1 Major Flaw (& Disney Was Right To Change It)
Elsa's back story was initially centered around one significant event in an early version of Frozen, but thankfully, Disney decided to scrap it.
Distance Can Help Frozen And Its Live-Action Remake Overcome Casting Challenges
By putting enough distance between the animated Frozen films and the theoretical live-action Frozen movie, Disney should be able to conquer the significant casting problem. Viewers wouldn't be as aware of the changes made to the characters (as would undeniably be the case if new actors played them) if they had some time away from Menzel's Elsa, Bell's Anna, and so on. It would be more difficult for the audience to identify the differences between the two casts' interpretations of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf, resulting in a more successful live-action Frozen remake.
