National Geographic and Walt Disney Animation Studios have ordered “The Real Frozen,” a nature series that reunites the original voice cast of the animated hit. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff will return as Anna, Elsa and Kristoff, and the trio will narrate the series. Josh Gad will make special appearances as Olaf. The working title could change before launch.
The series imagines the characters inhabiting the icy regions that inspired the films, with cameras in Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden and a focus on the animals that live there. It will premiere on the Nat Geo channel and stream on Disney+ and Hulu. Neither company has announced a premiere date.
Silverback Films, the British natural history studio, produces the show. Jeff Wilson directs. Wilson promised viewers that the real world of “Frozen” is as magical as the animated one, with “perhaps a wink.” Elisabeth Oakham and Katie Parsons direct and produce every episode, and Janet H. Vissering executive produces for National Geographic.
The project extends a formula the two companies have worked before. Earlier entries include the Emmy-winning “A Real Bug’s Life” and “Lion,” which examined the real animals behind “The Lion King.” “The Real Finding Nemo” is on the way. National Geographic content president Courteney Monroe framed the strategy around families, saying the network wants to pair stories children love with natural history that parents trust.
Disney’s timing reflects a larger plan. “Frozen 3” is scheduled for theaters on Nov. 24, 2027. Producer Christina Chen said no network suits the task better than National Geographic, and she welcomed the participation of the film’s lead cast and original animators. Some outlets expect the series to land near the film’s release, though the studios have not confirmed that.
The announcement also gives the “Frozen” brand a new audience. Documentary viewers who skip animated sequels now have a reason to return to Arendelle’s world, and Disney gains another property for its streaming services between theatrical releases.
The casting gives the series an advantage over most nature programming. Few documentaries open with voices that millions of children already know by heart. Whether young viewers accept Anna and Elsa as guides to real wildlife remains the open question, and the first episodes will answer it.
