Credit: DIsneyIf you thought you had to wait until 2027 for a Frozen sequel, think again.
It’s been well over a decade since Frozen (2013) first hit theaters, launching a fairy-tale saga centered on sisters Elsa and Anna, an ice-covered kingdom, and the unexpected consequences of magical power. While we may not be quite as deep into “Let It Go” fever as we were back in the day (thankfully), both the original film and its sequel, Frozen 2 (2019), remain hugely popular.
The evidence lies in the fact that Disney is set to open its third Frozen-themed land, World of Frozen, at the freshly-renamed Disney Adventure World in March.
Frozen also stands out from the typical Walt Disney Animation standard by the fact that it’s receiving a theatrically-released third and a fourth film in the coming years. While we’re still waiting on a release date for Frozen 4, we do know that Frozen 3 will – if all things go to plan – hit theaters on November 24, 2027.
However, it seems like fans won’t need to wait until then to see more from Anna (Kristen Bell), Elsa (Idina Menzel), Olaf (Josh Gad), and Kristoff (Jonathan Groff).
Disney Confirms A Surprise Bonus ‘Frozen’ Sequel
In a recent interview with License Global, Paul Gitter – executive vice president, global brand commercialization, Disney Consumer Products – let slip that Disney plans to release a new Frozen short in October.
“We’re excited to kick off the countdown to ‘Frozen 3’ with a new short this October, ahead of our biggest ever cross-company movie marketing campaign in 2027,” Gitter revealed.
This wouldn’t be the first time a studio has used a new short to build and sustain hype for a sequel. Last January, DreamWorks Animation released the short Little Lies and Alibis ahead of Dog Man (2025) to kick off the promotional campaign for Bad Guys 2 (2025).
It also isn’t Disney’s first Frozen short.
Walt Disney Animation released Frozen Fever, a short film sequel to Frozen, in 2015. This followed Elsa and Kristoff’s efforts to throw Anna a birthday party, only for Elsa’s icy powers to get in the way. Two years later, it released Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, a 21-minute Christmas-themed “short” that drew criticism for its length and the fact that it was played before screenings of Coco (2017).
Disney also released Once Upon a Snowman on Disney+ in 2020. Unlike its predecessors, the short isn’t a sequel but instead takes place during the events of Frozen, following Olaf’s story from his creation during “Let It Go” to the moment he first meets Anna, Kristoff, and Sven.
What Will Happen in Disney’s New ‘Frozen’ Short?
While we don’t know when Disney’s newest short will be set, it seems safe to assume that it could bridge the gap between Frozen 2 and Frozen 3 – or, at the very least, follow on from the events of Frozen 2.
Frozen 2 ended with Anna and Elsa going their separate ways, with Anna taking on the role of Queen of Arendelle and Elsa choosing to remain in the Enchanted Forest to better understand her powers and heritage.
Disney hasn’t revealed much information about the plot of Frozen 3. However, in September, licensing products on display at Disney’s Consumer Products Division Launch Conference in Shanghai hinted at what we can expect.
“In this new chapter, witness the wedding of the century in Arendelle as Queen Anna walks down the aisle and joins Elsa on a new magical journey filled with unknown challenges,” the synopsis reads. “And what’s even more exciting: the royal family is about to welcome a mysterious new member!”
Fans were quick to debate what the new addition to the story could mean. Theories range from a child born to Anna and Kristoff to the return of one of Anna and Elsa’s presumed-dead parents. Others have pointed to Once Upon a Time‘s Frozen arc, which introduced Ingrid, the sisters’ aunt, as a possible source of inspiration.
More far-fetched ideas also resurfaced, including the long-running fan theory that Anna and Elsa’s parents are secretly Tarzan’s parents.
Online reaction was mixed.
“Ah yes, the lazy trope of ‘adding a descendant because our creativity’s been milked,'” one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Another added, “This literally sounds like the plot of a Disney direct-to-DVD sequel.”
That said, it may be premature to draw conclusions. Disney’s own documentary, Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2, made clear how dramatically the plot of Frozen 2 evolved during production, underscoring how much can still change before a final story takes shape. Regardless of plot, the good news is that songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez are back to craft what is set to become yet another earworm of a soundtrack.
Here’s hoping that Disney’s new Frozen short offers some clues in the meantime.
Are you excited for Frozen 3?