A first image from Frozen 2 has leaked online showing an older Anna and Elsa. The first Frozen film was released back in 2013, and proved an instant hit worldwide. It grossed over $1.2 billion at the global box office – the highest-grossing animated film of all time, against a production budget of just $150 million.
Frozen 2 is due out next year, and is the most eagerly anticipated films of 2019. Disney is deliberately keeping quiet about the movie, giving away as little as they can, and hasn't even dropped an official trailer yet. The main voice cast – Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad – are all inevitably returning for the sequel. They'll be joined by some intriguing new cast members, such as Evan Rachel Wood and Sterling K. Brown.
As reported by That Hashtag Show, over the last few days images have been shared on Instagram that show an older Anna and Elsa. It appears to be the cover of a Russian calendar, and at first glance certainly seems genuine; the title on the calendar reads "Frozen Heart 2," which is indeed the title being used in Russia. It's not unusual for first-look images to leak in this manner; a similar Solo calendar gave early photos from this year's Star Wars spinoff, for example. Similar promotional artwork leaked for Avegers: Endgame as well.
It's a fascinating image, confirming there's a time-jump of some years between Frozen and the sequel. That's a smart move; it presumably means there's been a period of peace in Arendelle, with the people of the fictional country getting used to having a sorceress as queen. It will be fascinating to see how the relationship between Anna and Kristoff has developed over the years; the first film was praised for avoiding the traditional Disney tropes ("You can't marry a man you just met"), so frankly anything can happen. There's also been a popular push on social media for Disney to have Elsa be their first lesbian main character.
Elsa retains a haunted look, suggesting she's still uncomfortable with her powers, and struggling to accept who she is. Anna's clothing style remains the same, but feels a little more mature than in the 2013 animated film. It's interesting to note the leaves that are blowing in front of the two women, suggesting that where the first film was about winter in Arendelle, Frozen 2 may be about autumn; a season of change and transformation. That may well explain why Elsa looks so uncomfortable; her world is changing around her in some way, and she's not sure what to make of it all.
Marketing for a blockbuster like Frozen 2 usually kicks off around seven to eight months ahead of the theatrical release, so this is right about when merchandise leaks like this would be expected. Hopefully it won't be long before Disney release a trailer.
KEY RELEASE DATES
Frozen 2 (2019) release date: Nov 22, 2019
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