Changes are underway at the Walt Disney Animation Studios. Jennifer Lee, the former Chief Creative Officer, is stepping down from her role to focus on filmmaking. Lee has held this top position for six years and now dedicates her efforts to writing and directing the next two Frozen films.
Lee played a grand role in the success of the 2013 film Frozen, which grossed $1.28 billion globally at the box office. Her follow-up, Frozen 2 in 2019, exceeded the first film, earning $1.45 billion worldwide. With such incredible achievements, it’s clear that Lee’s storytelling magic continues to resonate with audiences, and she will now channel her creative energy into expanding the memorable franchise.
It is important to note, however, that Lee’s tenure as Chief Creative Officer was not without its challenges. Both Strange World and Wish underperformed at the box office, which may have influenced her decision to shift her focus back to what she excels at: the Frozen universe. Moving forward, she will write and executive produce the upcoming films, a role that seems to perfectly fit her talents.
So, who will take over as Chief Creative Officer? Jared Bush will. He has been working with Disney since 2014 and is known for his work on Zootopia and Encanto. He will step into the role and report directly to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman. Bush will oversee all creative output from Disney Animation and is also co-writing Zootopia 2, expected to be released in 2025.
Both Bush and Lee have contributed immensely to Disney’s success, and their influence will continue to grow, albeit in different ways. The future holds some promising stories!
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