Frozen 2: An Essential Sequel For Disney

The will it, won’t it debate rages on in regards to ‘Frozen 2’, but while the follow up is still currently unconfirmed, it’s something Disney simply cannot turn down, nor escape.

It’s perhaps the biggest no-brainer since the ‘Star Wars’ prequels. OK, so they weren’t all that great, but George Lucas knew they were going to make a shed load of cash, and they did (over $2.5 billion).

The same applies to ‘Frozen’. Everyone’s surely aware by now what a massive hit the CG musical was; having grossed $1.3 billion from a $150 million budget, not to mention the millions of soundtracks its shifted, as well as the merchandise sales (over $15 million from dresses alone).

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Even though Idina Menzel sparked an internet frenzy last week when, in regards to the musical and film sequel, she said “They’re all in the works,” the quote has since been played down. Her presumption that there will be a sequel isn’t so much premature speculation, but something of an inevitability for the Mouse House.

After all, why wouldn’t a studio want to appease millions of fans worldwide with an appealing, exciting, ongoing franchise that audiences have become so attached to?

Sceptics will no doubt brand Disney’s new princesses a cash cow and bemoan them for, well, cashing in, but in truth they’d be foolish not to.

Even if ‘Frozen 2’ wasn’t all that great, fans would still flock to see it. It’ll make a packet at the box office, too, and would be surprisingif it didn’t top (or at least near) the billion dollar mark again, especially if it received rave reviews.

The merchandise would also be a driving factor, with new characters and toy lines that would expand on Arendelle’s existing landscape — there’d likely be a repeat of the overwhelming demand for stuffed plushes and sparkly princess dresses we’ve seen throughout 2014.

What’s more, ‘Frozen 2’, regardless whether it lives up to the quality of the first film, will make enough money whatever they throw together (again, see ‘The Phantom Menace’), which would only strengthen other projects and support other movies made due to secured finances.

Personally, I’m not jumping for joy at a ‘Frozen’ sequel. The first was great, with catchy songs and likeable, witty characters that have become somewhat iconic in their own right.

But could its magic ever be replicated? Extended? Or, dare I say, surpassed?

I think not. Yet Disney, despite their horrible track record of sequels (mostly straight-to-DVD), would do their utmost — especially with John Lasseter in place — to make sure ‘Frozen 2’ would be the best possible film they could come up with.

However, with that in mind, as well as Disney’s rammed release and production schedules, don’t expect to see a sequel until around 2017 at the earliest.

Do you want to see ‘Frozen 2’ happen?

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Picture credits: Disney