Sorry, Frozen fans: when it comes to hope for Elsa (Idina Menzel) getting a romantic storyline in Frozen II, you’ll have to let it go. Speaking at an early press event for Disney’s next animated sequel, writer-director Jennifer Lee flat out denied that Elsa will have a love interest in this November’s Frozen II. The film will focus on Elsa and her continuing struggle to understand her powers and protecting her sister, leaving no real time for romantic love.
While many fans interpreted Elsa’s storyline of embracing her powers in the first Frozen as a queer allegory, culminating in the mega-hit “Let It Go,” it seems that the film’s creative team is focusing on Elsa standing on her own for now. However, that’s not to say the film will be free from romance altogether. Lee and co-director Chris Buck teased the direction of Anna (Kristen Bell) and Kristoff’s (Jonathan Groff) growing relationship in Frozen II.
The footage shown at the event (and at D23’s Disney Studios panel) previewed one of Kristoff’s attempts to propose to Anna. The directors emphasized this won’t be as easy as Kristoff hopes. Fans are going to be in for a treat, though; Broadway and Mindhunter star Jonathan Groff’s lovable Kristoff will get a big song of his own in the sequel, potentially focused on his proposal to Anna. While the self-aware and romantic “Love Is An Open Door” will be hard to top, we’re excited to hear Groff’s voice in its full potential, rather than being relegated to the half-sung, half-spoken, half-reindeer-voiced “Reindeers Are Better Than People.”
Frozen was subversive for focusing on the love story between its sister protagonists, and Frozen II will feature a bit of a role reversal in Anna and Elsa: with Anna being more concerned with Elsa’s safety and Elsa being more willing to take risks. We can’t wait to see how all of the relationships evolve and unfold once Frozen II hits theaters this November. In the meantime, let us know: what do you folks think? Are you bummed Elsa won’t be getting a love interest? Do you ship Anna and Kristoff, or are you hoping Hans makes a comeback? This author is not so secretly hoping for that. Let’s fight about it on Twitter!
Featured Image: Disney