Interview [Written]: Jennifer Lee (“Frozen”)

An IndieWire interview with Jennifer Lee who wrote the screenplay and co-directed Frozen.

This movie has been gestating at the studio since the 1940s, when Walt Disney tried and failed to find a way to bring the story to life in animated form. Apparently, the character of the queen was the sticking point — they couldn’t find a way to make her relatable to audiences. Who came up with the solution of making Elsa and Anna sisters?

The funny thing is, no one can remember. Everyone in the room was just piling ideas on top of one another. Now we look at each other, going, ‘Was it you? Was it you?’ From what I can tell, all the versions attempted over the years had a hard time with the queen. In the original story, she represents true evil. We asked who she was, what was the connection? And someone said, “What if they were sisters?” I just remember sitting there before I was on Frozen — I was just on Ralph then — and in my head I thought, “I wish I were doing that movie.”

What did you add?

It was Chris who pitched that the act of true love should be different back in 2008. But the biggest struggle was changing Elsa. In the original, it was more about love conquering negativity. When I came on, I wanted to push toward Elsa being more complex, to be ruled by fear. Once we made them sisters, Elsa represented fear and Anna represented love. We combined the power of both of those.

For the rest of the interview, go here.

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