Top Disney Exec Talks FROZEN Broadway Musical Plans: 'I'm Already Talking to Directors'!

In an all-new interview in today's The Hollywood Reporter, Thomas Schumacher, president and producer at Disney Theatrical Group opens up about plans to bring the Disney mega-hit animated film FROZEN to the Broadway stage.

Asked if the project is at the top of his 'to-do' list, Schumacher shared, "Before the movie came out and the hubbub began, we had a midnight screening with about five people from this office. I came out at 1:30 in the morning, and I texted John Lasseter and said, "When do we start?" Within about 60 seconds my phone rings, and it's John screaming because he's always wanted to try something onstage."

He continues, "There's something purely theatrical about the relationship between these two women [characters, Elsa and Anna]. You can see it. My job is to corral the writers of the movie. I'm already talking to directors, and I have a design concept, and we have to begin to fashion this idea. It doesn't need to be fast. It needs to be great."

The exec goes on to talk about other Disney animated films which have made the transition to the stage, some more successfully than others. "It was very natural that BEAUTY AND THE BEAST would make that transition. But then I'd argue it's probably not very obvious that Lion King would make that leap. For the most part, what has separated us from others who have tried to adapt film titles is that we're starting with something built around the idea of music, whether it's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST or Mary Poppins."

He adds, "You're not trying to think how to musicalize it; you try to figure out [whether] it would be appropriate for the stage. Aladdin took 22 years from the time the movie opened to tell that story theatrically."

Read the interview in full here

In the comedy adventure FROZEN, fearless optimist Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) sets off on an epic journey-teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven-to find her sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.

Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.

Image: Facebook/FROZEN