Jennifer Lee is exiting her post as Disney’s Chief Creative Officer to focus on directing and writing Frozen 3 and writing Frozen 4. Oscar-winning filmmaker Jared Bush will be taking over as CCO effective immediately, reporting to Disney Co-Chair Alan Bergman. Thirty-year Disney veteran Clark Spencer (Encanto, Zootopia) continues as President of the studio.
As CCO, Bush will oversee the creative output of the animation studio, including its films, series, and associated projects. Bush has been with the studio for over a decade, receiving the Oscar in 2022 for Encanto, for which he was both director and a writer, in the same year in which he was executive producer for the Oscar-nominated Raya and the Last Dragon. Bush was also co- director/co-writer on 2016’s Oscar-winning Zootopia, writer of the Oscar-nominated hit Moana, and received an Emmy Award for Zootopia+. He is also a writer and executive producer on the upcoming Moana 2 and is directing and writing Zootopia 2, set to release fall of 2025.
“I am so grateful to Bob and Alan for supporting my decision to return to filmmaking full time,” said Lee in a statement. “Every day working with them is a master class in creativity, business, community, and integrity. I’ve always believed in Jared’s incredible talent and can’t wait to see, with his passion and dedication to animation, what he brings to the CCO role. For me, getting to collaborate with this studio of artists, animators, and storytellers is such a privilege, and I look forward to all we will create together.”
“I am so deeply grateful to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for their faith in me, and thankful to Jennifer for her leadership and for her generous support as she embarks on the next chapters of Frozen,” said Bush. “Disney Animation is home to some of the greatest stories and characters of the past century, and I’m so excited to work with all of our filmmakers, artists, and Disney Animation team members as we shape the future of this legendary studio together.”
“Jared Bush is an incredible filmmaker and a talented executive who’s been a prominent creative force at Disney Animation for the past decade, and I am thrilled that he’ll be taking the reins of this storied studio,” Bergman said. “I also want to thank Jennifer Lee for her passionate leadership of the studio over the past several years – she’s made an indelible mark on both Disney Animation and the industry. I know she has so many more stories to tell, and there is truly no one better suited to oversee the continuation of the beloved story of Frozen.”
Lee is the Oscar-winning screenwriter and director behind Frozen and Frozen 2, two of the biggest animated films of all time. Lee joined Disney in 2011 as co-writer of the Oscar-nominated Wreck-It Ralph. She was also an integral part of building the story for “Zootopia” and served as executive producer on Encanto, Wish and Raya and the Last Dragon, as well as this fall’s Moana 2. She also oversaw Disney Animation’s first foray into animated series, including Baymax, Iwájú, and Zootopia+.
Bush and Lee are executive producers on Moana 2, with Bush co-writing alongside the film as well. Bush was the screenwriter for the original Moana, which surpassed one billion hours viewed on Disney+ earlier this year.
Lee sent the following note to Disney staff on Thursday morning:
For so many of us here, our dreams came true when we joined Walt Disney Animation Studios. I pinch myself every day that I get to be a part of the Disney magic with all of you, as our stories bring genuine hope, wonder, possibility, entertainment and joy to the world through the beautiful craft of animation. It has been my great honor to be CCO these past six years. I’m so proud of all we’ve built together, weathered together, and discovered together. The love, dedication, talent, and passion you all show every day is not just an inspiration to me, it’s an inspiration to the world.
As you know from Alan’s email, I will be returning to filmmaking full time writing and directing with Marc Smith on FROZEN 3 and FROZEN 4. I admit, I was hooked from the moment Marc first pitched this new adventure for our gang, and I am in awe of the incredible work he has done since then developing this powerful story. As a studio, we are fairly new to musical sequels, and this will be our first story told over two films at once. I’m excited for the challenge and so grateful for this opportunity to return to filmmaking, and can think of no better way to do so than with our FROZEN family.
One of the things that makes Disney so special is our commitment to having filmmakers as our studio leaders. This morning, Alan also announced that Jared Bush has agreed to be our new Chief Creative Officer. Jared’s talents as an animation writer and director stretch far beyond the ZOOTOPIAs, the MOANAs, and ENCANTO. He is committed to this studio and its future, and I truly believe that his passion, his tireless work ethic, and his pursuit of excellence will only make us stronger.
I am so grateful to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for their incredible support and guidance over all these years. Every moment I’ve gotten to work with them has been a master class in creativity, business, community, and integrity. I want to thank them for supporting my decision to return to filmmaking at this studio that I love so much.
I also want to thank Clark Spencer, the greatest partner anyone could ever have. He is brilliant, patient, and, like Kristoff from FROZEN, he’s the honest goods. He is our rock and will continue to be. And I could not have made it through the hours without Eileen Aguirre. Her care for this studio, her knowledge, and her considerate spirit remains a beacon to all of us.
Sources: Disney, The Hollywood Reporter
