Kristen Bell Says Iconic 'Frozen' Song Almost Didn’t Make The Final Cut

When "Frozen," starring Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell, hit theaters in November 2013, no one, not even Disney, could've predicted the icy grip it would have on pop culture.

Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," the film introduced audiences to the royal sisters of Arendelle, Elsa, a reclusive queen with ice powers, and Anna, her fearless younger sibling with a serious thing for spontaneous musical numbers (and chocolate).

The movie's breakout anthem, "Let It Go," performed by Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel, became an instant global obsession, winning an Oscar and spawning countless parodies, covers, and even a few parental meltdowns. Kristen Bell's portrayal of Anna added humor and heart, making the dynamic duo unforgettable.

The film didn't just break the ice, it shattered box office records, raking in over $1.2 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing animated film at the time.

But Kristen Bell is now letting fans in on a little secret about the record-breaking Disney film.

When chatting with Kevin Nealon, Bell said that "Do You Want To Build A Snowman" was not in the first "Frozen" film, up until about a couple of months before we released it, because there's a formula to Disney movies."

She then gave an example of how the opening song in "Beauty and the Beast" was a song about the gathering of the town as it "introduced you to the main characters."

In "Frozen," the opening song is "Frozen Heart," which is sung by a group of ice harvesters as they work, establishing the film's themes of love, fear, and the power of ice. "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" was moved to the second song, to follow Disney's "formula."

It seemed that sticking to the Disney formula was successful, as the film remains a massive hit to this day.

In 2019, "Frozen II" melted hearts all over again, diving deeper into the sisters' backstory and exploring themes of legacy, identity, and the call of the unknown. That sequel hauled in another $1.45 billion, proving Disney had struck gold twice, and that Elsa and Anna weren't going anywhere.

While looking back on her time making the two films, Bell told Vanity Fair that she greatly enjoyed voicing Princess Anna.

"I had always dreamed, as many people do, of being involved in a Disney animation film. They're so formidable in your life when you're young, and I was obsessed with them," she shared. "I remember sitting in my living room on my little old boombox, like, recording myself singing, 'The Little Mermaid,' in case I ever needed that tape."

Then, when she learned that she scored the role of Princess Anna, Bell said she was overjoyed.

"It occurred to me that I would do anything they asked me to," she continued, "But what I should be valiantly striving for is to create a character that I really needed to see when I was 11 years old, which was someone like this character."

Turns out "Frozen" had a little more heat than we realized, and Kristen Bell spilt the (icy) tea.

The "Bad Moms" star recently revealed that a cheeky line from the 2013 Disney mega-hit wasn't exactly innocent. In the same interview with Vanity Fair, Bell admitted she knowingly delivered a not-so-subtle double entendre while voicing Princess Anna in the fan-favorite song "For the First Time in Forever."

The lyric in question? "For years I've roamed these empty halls / Why have a ballroom with no balls?"

"How did we get that joke in there?" Bell laughed. "We slid it under the radar."

According to the actress, the joke almost got the axe, but the "Frozen" team got crafty when execs started raising eyebrows. "It almost didn't make it in," she explained. "But then we were like, 'What are you talking about? That's not what it means. Don't be a perv.'"

Despite nearly axing a fan-favorite song and sneaking in a cheeky double entendre, "Frozen" went on to become one of the most beloved franchises in Disney history. With record-breaking box office numbers, unforgettable characters, and a global fanbase still belting out "Let It Go," it's clear that even a few risky moves couldn't stop Elsa and Anna from becoming animated royalty.

And, with theme park attractions, Broadway adaptations, toy aisles that still can't keep up, and a third film to be released on November 24, 2027, "Frozen" isn't just a movie anymore. It's a cultural empire.