As Disney readies the sequels to its uber-grossing $1.75 billion Frozen franchise, Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee is segueing from her position to direct and write Frozen 3 and executive produce Frozen 4 with Marc Smith. Effective immediately, Oscar winning Encanto filmmaker Jared Bush has been named CCO of Walt Disney Animation Studios, reporting to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.
Frozen 3 is dated for November 24, 2027.
Lee has served as CCO for the division since 2018. Thirty-year Disney veteran and Oscar-winning producer Clark Spencer continues as President, Walt Disney Animation Studios.
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“Jared Bush is an incredible filmmaker and a talented executive who’s been a prominent creative force at Disney Animation for the past decade, and I am thrilled that he’ll be taking the reins of this storied studio,” Bergman said. “I also want to thank Jennifer Lee for her passionate leadership of the studio over the past several years – she’s made an indelible mark on both Disney Animation and the industry. I know she has so many more stories to tell, and there is truly no one better suited to oversee the continuation of the beloved story of Frozen.”
“I am so deeply grateful to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for their faith in me, and thankful to Jennifer for her leadership and for her generous support as she embarks on the next chapters of Frozen,” said Bush. “Disney Animation is home to some of the greatest stories and characters of the past century, and I’m so excited to work with all of our filmmakers, artists, and Disney Animation team members as we shape the future of this legendary studio together.”
Said Lee, “I am so grateful to Bob and Alan for supporting my decision to return to filmmaking full time. Every day working with them is a master class in creativity, business, community, and integrity. I’ve always believed in Jared’s incredible talent and can’t wait to see, with his passion and dedication to animation, what he brings to the CCO role. For me, getting to collaborate with this studio of artists, animators, and storytellers is such a privilege, and I look forward to all we will create together.”
As CCO, the decade-Disney vet Bush will steer the creative output of Disney animation across films, series, and associated projects. Bush wrote and directed Encanto and served as EP on Raya and the Last Dragon. He was also co-director/co-writer on 2016’s Oscar-winning Zootopia, writer of the original Oscar-nominated hit Moana, and received an Emmy Award for Zootopia+. He serves as a writer and EP on the upcoming Moana 2 hitting theaters on Nov. 27, and he’s directing and writing Zootopia 2 set to open on Nov. 26, 2025.
Lee is the Oscar-winning screenwriter and director behind the Frozen franchise. Lee joined Disney in 2011 as co-writer of the Oscar-nominated Wreck-It Ralph, was involved in story building for Zootopia, served as EP on Encanto, Wish, Raya and the Last Dragon and the upcoming Moana 2. She also oversaw Disney Animation’s first foray into animated series, including Baymax, the first-of-its-kind series Iwájú, and Zootopia+, for which she received an Emmy Award, and she is the Tony-nominated writer of the book for the Broadway musical Frozen.