Tag Archives: Frozen

It’s official: Disney’s ‘Frozen’ is coming to Broadway in 2018

Step aside, Aladdin and The Lion King. A new Disney musical is coming to town and it’s primed to be a guaranteed sensation. Today, Disney Theatrical Productions made it official: Frozen is making its long-anticipated bow on Broadway in Spring 2018. It will be based on the original movie and not the in-the-works sequel. Fans of the critically acclaimed animated film will surely revel in the fact that Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez–composers of the the movie’s classic tunes–are leading the musical’s creative team. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo, who previously worked on Broadway musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon, will adapt the Frozen songs you know and love (“Let It Go“, and so on) for the stage; additionally, they are currently concocting brand new songs that will feature exclusively in the musical. Also coming over from the movie to collaborate on the musical is Frozen‘s screenwriter and co-director Jennifer Lee; she’s penning the performance’s book.

The rest of Frozen: The Broadway Musical‘s creative team is dominated by Tony Award winners and nominees including director Alex Timbers (Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle), choreographer Peter Darling (Billy Elliot), scenic and costume designer Bob Crowley (Mary Poppins), lighting designer Natasha Katz (Aladdin), sound designer Peter Hylenski (Motown), and music supervisor Stephen Oremus (Wicked).

Performance dates, the venue, and the cast have yet to be finalized. First things first, though; an out-of-town tryout performance will play in summer 2017. Do you think you’d have what it takes to channel Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Jonathan Groff under the bright lights of Broadway? Stay tuned for details as they come!

[Via Disney; Playbill]

Disney confirms ‘Star Wars’ stand-alone film, ‘Episode VIII’ & ‘Frozen’ sequel

Today, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger led a shareholder meeting and made some exciting announcements regarding a couple of his company’s most lucrative franchises.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, is coming December 18–we all know this. Now what comes after? Details about the future of Star Wars just got a bit clearer. Sandwiched between Episode VII and its direct followup Episode VIII, Disney is releasing the first stand-alone Star Wars film. “Rogue One is the title for the first film in a unique series of big-screen adventures that explores the characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga,” reads a press release. Gareth Edwards (GodzillaMonsters) is confirmed to direct Rogue One, and Chris Weitz (Cinderella, About a Boy, Antz) is penning the script. Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) will star. The idea for the stand-alone came from John Knoll, an Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer at Industrial Light & Magic (that’s the visual effects company created by George Lucas in 1975). Production on Rogue One begins this summer and it’s slotted to hit theatres December 16, 2016.

Iger went on to confirm that Rian Johnson (LooperBrickBreaking Bad) will direct Star Wars: Episode VIII, “which continues the saga after the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Ep8 releases May 26, 2017.

In other Disney-related news, Iger made an unsurprising but still incredibly exciting announcement about the future of Frozen. A sequel is most definitely in the works! Frozen co-directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck are working on the followup to the top-grossing animated film of all-time.

“We enjoyed making Frozen Fever so much and being back in that world with those characters,” said John Lasseter, Pixar chief creative officer. “Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck have come up with a great idea for a sequel and you will be hearing a lot more about it and we’re taking you back to Arendelle. We are so excited about that.”

That’s all there is to know for now. But now I bet you’re craving Frozen like Olaf craves summertime. Don’t fret–you can experience a brand new Frozen adventure starting tomorrow when the Pixar short Frozen Fever hits theatres; it’s playing in front of Disney’s new live-action Cinderella.

Sneak a peek at the new Disney short ‘Frozen Fever’ [Update: trailer inside!]

Frozen directors Christopher Buck and Jennifer Lee introduce Frozen Fever, a spinoff short that will screen in front of Disney’s upcoming live action adaptation of Cinderella. The short takes place “just a few months since we’ve last seen the gang,” explains Buck. “It’s Anna’s birthday,” Lee says, “and Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf are throwing her a giant party.” The inciting incident? Elsa’s got a cold and “that’s complicating things,” teases Buck. Watch the featurette after the break.

Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad all return to reprise their signature roles. Plus, Frozen song writers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez have invented an all-new original tune for the short. Cannot wait to hear that!

Frozen Fever comes to theatres with Cinderella on March 13.

Update (2/25): Disney’s released a Frozen Fever teaser trailer and it contains actual footage from the anticipated short! Plus, you’ll hear a brief snippet of the Lopez’s new song! Don’t delay–hop after the break and click play! Continue reading Sneak a peek at the new Disney short ‘Frozen Fever’ [Update: trailer inside!]

Movie trailer round-up: ‘Peanuts’ & Disney’s ‘Cinderella’ [Update: ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ inside]

When the first teaser for director Paul Feig’s adaptation of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts landed in March, I was lamenting the fact that his creative team decided to go with CG-animation as opposed to the classic hand-drawn style from the comic strips. But now, the more I watch this new trailer, I’m convinced a fun story can be told through the CG lens. I can appreciate the fact that Feig and co. opted to take Charlie Brown and Snoopy into new territory while still retaining some of the nostalgic squiggly lines there. What do you think?

Peanuts makes its big-screen debut November 6, 2015.

Jump after the break to see the trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s imagining of the Disney classic Cinderella. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘Peanuts’ & Disney’s ‘Cinderella’ [Update: ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ inside]

TV reminders: ‘The Story of Frozen’ & ‘The League’ premiere this week [Update: ‘Frozen’ short film announced]

We’re fast approaching the new fall TV season, but first there are a couple premieres you can’t skip. First up is The Story of Frozen: Making an Animated Classic. It is exactly what it sounds like: a brand new special that goes behind the scenes of the making of Disney’s hit animated film Frozen. In it you’ll hear from directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, producer Peter Del Vecho, songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Disney/Pixar head John Lasseter, and of course stars Kristen Bell and Adele Dazeem Idina Menzel as well as other creatives behind the movie. Viewers will get a rare look inside Walt Disney Animation Studios and journey to the Norwegian villages and landscapes that inspired the look of Arendelle. Additionally, the special will discuss “the future of the Frozen franchise” (perhaps an official sequel announcement?!) as well as tease the upcoming Frozen-inspired story-arc coming to Once Upon a Time this fall. The Story of Frozen premieres tonight (Tuesday, 9/2) at 8PM on ABC.

The fantasy football obsessed The League, with Pete, Kevin, Ruxin, Andre, Taco, and Jenny all vying for the Shiva once again, returns for its sixth season tomorrow, Wednesday, September 3 at 10PM on FXX.

Update: The Frozen special did not spill sequel news, however an exciting announcement about the future of Frozen was indeed made at the end of the hour. Walt Disney Animation Studios is currently working on Frozen Fever, a short film featuring all your favorite Frozen characters (including Olaf!), which will debut in spring 2015 in front of an unspecified Disney film.

It’s Anna’s birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but Elsa’s icy powers may put more than just the party at risk.

The short is directed by Frozen helmers Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and it will include a brand new original song by “Let It Go” songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

Jimmy Fallon, The Roots & Idina Menzel perform ‘Frozen’s “Let It Go”

Every now and again Jimmy Fallon and The Roots get together with musicians and cover popular songs with them. Jimmy and his Tonight Show house band broke out the classroom instruments most recently with the wickedly talented Idina Menzel to perform a fun version of her big, Oscar-winning Frozen tune “Let It Go.” Enjoy!

Bonus clip! Jump after the break to watch my favorite “Let It Go” cover by Nigerian singer Alex Boye featuring a very talented 11-year-old Lexi Walker and The One Voice Children’s Choir. Continue reading Jimmy Fallon, The Roots & Idina Menzel perform ‘Frozen’s “Let It Go”

Movie trailer roundup: Disney’s ‘Frozen’ & Aaron Paul in ‘Need For Speed’

It looks like Walt Disney Animation Studios has another winner on its hands. The followup to Wreck-It Ralph is Frozen and ironically enough it’s going to be warm-hearted tale of adventure and lots of laughter. Like the teaser before it, this full-length trailer is brimming with laugh-out-loud jokes and much charm.

Here’s a refresher: Frozen is described as “a stunning big-screen comedy adventure. Fearless optimist Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) sets off on an epic journey—teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven—to find her sister Elsa (Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.”

Frozen hits theatres in 3D this November 27.

Jump after the break for a first-look at Dreamworks’ Need For Speed. Continue reading Movie trailer roundup: Disney’s ‘Frozen’ & Aaron Paul in ‘Need For Speed’

Movie trailer round-up: ‘Anchorman 2’, ‘The LEGO Movie’, Disney’s ‘Frozen’, ‘Jobs’ & ‘Kick-Ass 2’

No more teasers! It’s time to watch the first Anchorman 2 trailer brimming with new footage from the upcoming sequel. Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, and Christina Applegate reprise their roles as Ron Burgundy, Brian Fantana, Brick Tamland, Champ Kind, and Veronica Corningstone in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. With the ’70s behind them, the Channel 4 news team reunites to take on New York’s first 24-hour news channel. Kristen Wiig and James Marsden join the all-star cast. Burgundy returns in the Adam McKay-directed sequel December 20. A hairy, unmistakable poster hangs after the break.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘Anchorman 2’, ‘The LEGO Movie’, Disney’s ‘Frozen’, ‘Jobs’ & ‘Kick-Ass 2’