At today’s panel for “Frozen II”, director Chris Buck informed attendees that both “Frozen” movies form one “complete story”.
Some familiar #Frozen2 faces and new cast members stopped by #D23Expo: @idinamenzel, @kristenbell, @joshgad, Jonathan Groff, @SterlingKBrown, and @EvanRachelWood—plus filmmakers @alittlejelee & Chris Buck! pic.twitter.com/FSC3Hb4LE6
— Disney Animation (@DisneyAnimation) August 25, 2019
Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven playing a game of charades. This seems like a lighthearted moment as Olaf transforms himself into various forms to allow Kristoff to easily guess what he’s acting out. However, when it’s Elsa’s turn, she becomes distracting by a haunting voice that only she can here. The scene ends with her excusing herself form the game to retreat to her room to be alone.
As the clip ends, Elsa is seen singing about following the voice and traveling into “the unknown.”
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee presented an overview of the studio’s next two features, the other being Thanksgiving 2020 fantasy-action-adventure, “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Directors Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins (“Big Hero 6,” “Frozen”), producer Osnat Shurer (“Moana”) and writer Adele Lim (“Crazy Rich Asians”) joined Lee on stage to set up the film, which introduces Raya, a lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra who teams up with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the Last Dragon and bring light and unity back to their world. The D23 Expo crowd was the first to get a look at the new film, viewing an exclusive three-minute piece. They also met two newly announced members of the voice cast: Awkwafina lends her voice to Sisu, the Last Dragon, who was left on Earth in case dark forces return to the world, and Cassie Steele voices the lead character, Raya. Exploring themes of community and hope, and inspired by the beautiful and diverse cultures of Southeast Asia, the fantasy-action-adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 25, 2020.Lee, who directs “Frozen 2” with Chris Buck, and wrote the screenplay, invited Buck to join her on stage as the duo revealed new details about the upcoming film, which opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22.
The crowd—who received an exclusive D23 Expo “Frozen 2” poster—saw never-before-seen footage of the new characters, including a scene that featured Wood as Iduna singing to young Elsa and Anna. The song, “All Is Found,” is one of seven all-new original songs by songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
Check out the brand new #Frozen2 poster from #D23Expo. See the film in theaters November 22. pic.twitter.com/MSNDDp6Nue
— Disney’s Frozen 2 (@DisneyFrozen) August 24, 2019
The audience also saw a sequence from the movie that showcased Elsa’s yearning for answers about the past, culminating in another song, “Into the Unknown.” And a climactic performance of the song “Some Things Never Change” by Menzel, Bell, Groff and Gad brought the audience to its feet, capping off the studio presentation in extraordinary style.