ABC to Air FROZEN Holiday Special in 2017; Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell & Josh Gad to Return!

Following the news that Frozen will officially hit Broadway, ABC also announced today the next chapter in the story: an all-new, all-original holiday special starring the whole "Frozen" cast of characters, including Olaf, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Sven.

The special is directed by two-time Emmy Award-winning directors Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton (ABC's "Prep & Landing" and "Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa"), produced by Oscar®-winning producer Roy Conli ("Big Hero 6") and features the original voice cast including Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad. The currently untitled "Frozen" special will air Holidays 2017 (date tba) on the ABC Television Network.

Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Located in Burbank, WDAS continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, stretching from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," to 2013's Academy Award®-winning "Frozen," the biggest animated film of all time. Among the studio's timeless creations are "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," "The Jungle Book," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King," "Tangled," "Wreck-It Ralph," "Big Hero 6," and the upcoming features "Zootopia" and "Moana."

Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated feature "Frozen" launched a worldwide phenomenon in 2013, becoming the highest-grossing animated feature ever released with more than $1.27 billion in global box office. "Frozen" has received multiple honors, including two Academy Awards, the Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, PGA Award, five Annie Awards and two Grammy Awards.

The film was one of the biggest home entertainment successes of the last decade, becoming the best-selling Blu-ray and digital release in U.S. history. The film's quadruple Platinum soundtrack, featuring the Oscar-winning song "Let It Go," has sold over 10 million units worldwide and spent 33 weeks in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, including 13 weeks at No. 1.

The North American tour of "Disney on Ice Presents Frozen," produced by Feld Entertainment, resulted in the biggest on-sale in Feld's history. Millions of guests enjoy "Frozen" experiences at Disney Parks around the world, where Anna and Elsa are among the most sought-after princesses, and construction is underway on a new "Frozen" attraction at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort. Disney Cruise Line has featured a variety of "Frozen"-inspired activities on select itineraries.