Disney's Original 'Snow Queen' Made Elsa from 'Frozen' a Straight-Up Disney Villain
Disney's Frozen franchise has become a cultural juggernaut, with its empowering anthems, sisterly bonds, and that earworm "Let It Go" turning Elsa into an icon of self-acceptance. But rewind the clock to the early days of development, and things were way darker: Elsa wasn't the misunderstood queen we know today—she was straight-up the villain, drawing directly from Hans Christian Andersen's chilling fairy tale The Snow Queen.
This original vision paints a fascinating "what if" scenario for the series, especially as we eye Frozen 3 on the horizon. Let's dive into the icy origins, the massive pivots Disney made, and whether Elsa could ever flip to the dark side in the upcoming sequel.
Here’s the TL;DR…
Disney's early attempts to adapt The Snow Queen spanned decades, with the titular character as a cold-hearted antagonist.
Frozen transformed the fairy tale's villainous Snow Queen into Elsa, a heroic figure struggling with her powers, shifting focus to themes of family and self-love.
Changes included making Elsa and Anna sisters, ditching the kidnapping plot, and introducing Hans as the twist villain instead.
For Frozen 3, set for 2027, Elsa turning evil seems unlikely—concept art hints at a new shadowy foe, and the story emphasizes her growth as the Snow Queen.
What Were Disney's Original Plans for The Snow Queen?
Disney's flirtation with Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen goes back further than you might think—way before Elsa belted out her power ballad. Walt Disney himself eyed the story as early as the 1930s, envisioning it as a potential animated feature. The fairy tale, first published in 1844, follows a young girl named Gerda on a quest to rescue her friend Kai from the clutches of the icy Snow Queen, who shatters a demonic mirror that distorts reality and freezes hearts.
Over the years, Disney revisited the idea multiple times. In the 1940s, there were talks of a live-action/animation hybrid, but it fizzled out. By the 1990s and early 2000s, concepts floated around with the Snow Queen as a glamorous but evil force, complete with a tragic backstory—perhaps a jilted bride or a misunderstood enchantress. One pitch even had her as a blue-skinned villainess with a cape of live polar bears. These iterations stalled due to story issues: how do you make a cold, distant villain relatable without thawing the essence of the tale?
It wasn't until the 2010s, under the guidance of Pixar alum John Lasseter, that the project gained traction. Renamed Frozen, the film started with Elsa as the antagonist—isolated, powerful, and villainous, much like the original Snow Queen. Early scripts had her kidnapping Anna's love interest and unleashing an army of snowmen to terrorize Arendelle. But as development progressed, the team realized this setup felt too formulaic for Disney's evolving princess narrative.
The History of Disney's Long Road to Frozen
Disney's history with The Snow Queen is a saga of starts and stops, reflecting the studio's shifting priorities. Post-WWII, Walt considered pairing it with other Andersen tales in an anthology film, but animation costs and creative hurdles shelved it. In the 1950s, a Soviet animated version of The Snow Queen beat Disney to the punch, earning acclaim and even influencing future Disney animators.
The 1990s renaissance era saw renewed interest, with directors like Glen Keane (of Tarzan fame) tinkering with hand-drawn concepts. By the 2000s, it was reimagined as a CGI feature, but scripts kept hitting walls—particularly in humanizing the Snow Queen without losing her edge. Enter Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck in the late 2000s. They cracked the code by focusing on sisterhood, but even then, Elsa's villain arc lingered until a pivotal rewrite.
The turning point? The song "Let It Go." Composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez penned it as Elsa's empowerment anthem, but it didn't fit a villain. Test audiences loved the song so much that the team overhauled the story, making Elsa sympathetic and introducing Prince Hans as the surprise baddie. This shift turned Frozen into a billion-dollar smash in 2013, spawning sequels, merch empires, and Broadway shows.
How Did Disney Change the Fairy Tale for Frozen?
Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen is no fluffy bedtime story—it's a seven-part epic laced with Christian allegory, trolls, and existential dread. The Snow Queen herself is a force of nature: aloof, beautiful, and malevolent, kidnapping Kai after shards from a cursed mirror lodge in his eye and heart, making him cruel and forgetful. Gerda's journey involves robbers, talking animals, and a Finnish witch, culminating in a tearful rescue that melts the ice with love and faith.
Disney flipped the script entirely for Frozen. Key changes include:
Family Ties Over Friendship: Gerda and Kai became sisters Anna and Elsa, emphasizing sibling love over platonic rescue. This made the story more intimate and relatable.
Villain Swap: The Snow Queen morphed from pure evil to Elsa, whose powers are a curse-turned-gift. No kidnapping—Elsa accidentally freezes Arendelle in a panic.
Modern Themes: Andersen's tale warns against rationality over faith (the mirror shards represent distorted logic). Frozen pivots to self-acceptance, mental health metaphors, and "true love" as familial, not romantic.
Supporting Cast Remix: Kristoff echoes Kai's reindeer-riding pal, Olaf is a comic snowman nod to early villain concepts, and Hans fills the antagonist void left by Elsa's redemption.
These tweaks made Frozen a fresh take, but purists argue it softened the fairy tale's edges, losing the epic quest and moral depth.
Was Elsa Always Meant to Be a Hero?
No—early Frozen art and scripts show Elsa with spiky blue hair, a dramatic coat, and an evil grin, commanding snow goons. Voice actress Idina Menzel even recorded villainous lines before the pivot. The change came when "Let It Go" humanized her, proving audiences craved complexity over cartoon evil.
Why Did Disney Scrap the Villain Elsa?
Test screenings showed kids (and adults) rooting for Elsa. Disney wanted to subvert princess tropes, avoiding another wicked queen like in Snow White. Plus, sisterly redemption tested better than betrayal.
Will Elsa Turn Evil in Frozen 3?
Frozen 3, slated for November 24, 2027, is shaping up as part one of a two-film arc (with Frozen 4 to follow). Directed by Jennifer Lee (stepping back from her CCO role), it promises to answer lingering questions from Frozen 2, like Elsa's role as the Fifth Spirit and Arendelle's future.
But Elsa as a villain? Based on what we know, it's a long shot. Concept art from D23 2024 shows Anna and Elsa riding into adventure, pursued by a shadowy, Viking-like figure—likely a new antagonist disrupting the Enchanted Forest's peace. Rumors swirl about a fire-wielding foe or a "lost past" kingdom, but nothing points to Elsa going dark. Her arc has been about embracing power, not corruption—think protector, not destroyer.
Social media buzz, like posts theorizing "evil Elsa" returns, stems from fan wishes for edgier stakes. Yet Disney's track record favors heroic leads; turning Elsa villainous could alienate families. If anything, expect internal conflict—maybe Elsa's powers overwhelming her—but not full heel turn. Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell are confirmed back, with the story "character-driven and emotionally grounded."
Could Frozen 3 Draw More from the Original Fairy Tale?
Possibly! With Elsa as the official Snow Queen now, elements like the magic mirror or a deeper quest could nod to Andersen. But Disney's formula prioritizes heart over horror, so any "evil" vibes might be metaphorical—like Elsa facing a dark reflection of herself.
In the end, Disney's evolution from villainous Snow Queen to heroic Elsa redefined fairy tales for a new generation. As Frozen 3 looms, the franchise's future looks bright (and frosty), but don't hold your breath for a villain arc—Elsa’s too busy letting it go.
Sources
Wikipedia: The Snow Queen
ScreenRant: Frozen: Every Failed Disney Attempt To Adapt The Snow Queen
Movie Outline: Frozen: Disney's Snow Queen
Wayne State University: Timeless Magic: The Snow Queen and other Fairytales
Snow White Writes: 9 Ways the Original Snow Queen is Nothing Like Frozen
White Rose of Avalon: The Snow Queen and Frozen in Comparison
Quora: What are the major differences between Frozen and The Snow Queen
Dettol Disney: Frozen vs. The Snow Queen
Operation Awesome: Adaptations and Loose Interpretations: Frozen vs. The Snow Queen
ScreenRant: Frozen 3: Release Date, Cast, Story & Everything We Know
Variety: 'Frozen 3' Gets First Look, 2027 Release Date
GameRant: Disney Boss Jared Bush Shares A Promising Update About Frozen 3
Disney.com: Frozen | Official Disney Site