Movies

Frozen Originally Positioned Elsa and Anna as Enemies—Not Sisters

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Disney's 2013 superhit Frozen is lauded as one of the most feminist "princess movies" of all time, and for good reason. Elsa and Anna aren't your stereotypical royal ladies: They're complex, deeply flawed (um, Elsa banishes herself to an ice tower because she's in her feelings), and they find more comfort in each other than in princes. This is especially true at the end of the movie, when their sisterly love is what ultimately breaks the curse and leads to happily ever after. Not some guy. Not a kiss. Just girl power. That's a powerful message to send to young girls (and boys) who watch Disney movies for hours on end.

But this twist wasn't how Disney originally planned to end Frozen. It's not even close. In fact, had Disney gone with its original idea, Frozen wouldn't be woke at all; it'd just be another Cinderella knockoff with two-dimensional depictions of women.

Are you ready for this? According to producer Peter Del Vecho in a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, Elsa and Anna weren't intended to be sisters or royal. They were conceived as enemies, with Elsa taking on the role of "heartless villain" and Anna playing the "everyday gal who saves the day." Yup.

In the original draft a prophecy claimed a "ruler with a frozen heart" would "bring destruction to the kingdom of Arendelle.” That ruler was Elsa, who intentionally (and literally) froze her heart after getting jilted by her fiancé.

In the original final act, Elsa creates "an army of snow monsters" to attack Arendelle. After Kristoff tries (and fails) to help Anna fight these giants, the sociopathic Prince Hans "triggers a massive avalanche" to wipe out Elsa. The only problem? That avalanche will also destroy all of Arendelle. Anna somehow convinces Elsa to use her powers to stop the avalanche, which unfreezes her heart and positions Hans as the "ruler with a frozen heart."

Wild, right? It's great that Hans was conceived as the true villain from the start, but Anna's and Elsa's first iterations aren't great. Seriously, a snow queen who goes bonkers because her would-be husband ditched her? Kristoff coming to Anna's rescue? These are princess tropes that need to stay in the past. Props to Disney for letting go (eh?!) of this original concept and telling a more progressive story. The movie is much better for it.