Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Jonathan Groff are returning to Frozen as narrators for The Real Frozen, a National Geographic series about real animals.
They’ll voice Anna, Elsa and Kristoff over footage of wildlife in the icy landscapes of Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Josh Gad appears only in special appearances as Olaf, with The Hollywood Reporter saying he will “pop in and out”.
Collider reports the series is made with Walt Disney Animation Studios, premieres on the Nat Geo cable channel and then streams on Disney+ and Hulu. The title is a working title. No premiere date has been announced.
What the show covers
According to the description carried by Collider, the series follows real-life animals “whose fortitude, loyalty, resilience and relationships echo the emotional heart of the Frozen franchise”. They navigate the harshest winters, and the show promises extraordinary behaviours, survival strategies, and bonds. It also reimagines the Frozen characters “as if they were inhabiting the real worlds” depicted in the series.
Trade reports say Bell, Menzel, and Groff reprise their roles as narrators who guide viewers through each story.
Silverback Films produces for National Geographic, in collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios. Jeff Wilson directs for Silverback, and Elisabeth Oakham and Katie Parsons serve as director and producers on all episodes. Janet H. Vissering is executive producer for National Geographic.
We know there are extraordinary animal tales out there in the world, and this collaboration gives us the chance to show audiences that the real world of ‘Frozen’ is every bit as magical as the animated version, with a sense of wonder and even perhaps a wink.
Jeff Wilson, director, Silverback Films (via TheWrap)
The fourth Real show
The Hollywood Reporter calls it the fourth such adaptation, after Lion (a real-life The Lion King), the Emmy-winning A Real Bug’s Life and the upcoming The Real Finding Nemo.
Courteney Monroe, president of National Geographic Content, said the network is “building on the success of our Emmy-winning A Real Bug’s Life and the upcoming The Real Finding Nemo”. She described it as “excited to continue growing The Real franchise”, and said Nat Geo is passionate about “inspiring the next generation through stories kids love and parents trust”.
Frozen’s bigger year
Frozen 3’s first plot details were revealed at D23 in August, the same event where Zootopia 3 was confirmed. The film is due in theatres on 24 November 2027, and a fourth Frozen film is in the works.
