Disney brings 'Ice Age' back from deep freeze

First teaser for 'Ice Age: Boiling Point' reunites original voice cast for volcanic Lost World adventure set for 202

LOS ANGELES:

Disney has officially revived its long-dormant 'Ice Age' franchise, releasing the first teaser for 'Ice Age: Boiling Point', marking the return of the popular animated series after a 10-year gap since its last theatrical instalment.

The film is scheduled for release on February 5, 2027, and continues the journey of long-established characters Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie and Buck as they are thrust into a chaotic new adventure through the so-called "Lost World", filled with volcanic eruptions, lava flows and prehistoric creatures.

The teaser opens with the familiar herd being launched out of a volcanic blast before landing in a dangerous and unpredictable landscape, signalling a more high-stakes, action-driven direction for the latest chapter in the franchise.

The original voice cast returns for the new instalment, with Ray Romano reprising his role as Manny, John Leguizamo as Sid, Denis Leary as Diego, Queen Latifah as Ellie, and Simon Pegg returning as Buck. Fan-favourite characters Scrat, Crash and Eddie also feature in the teaser footage, reaffirming the franchise's long-standing comedic tone.

The 'Ice Age' series, which began in 2002 under Blue Sky Studios, has remained one of animation's most recognisable global franchises, spawning multiple sequels throughout the 2000s and 2010s. According to industry reports, 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' remains the highest-grossing entry in the series, earning nearly $886 million worldwide.

'Ice Age: Boiling Point' is directed by John Donkin, who previously worked on 'The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild' and served as a producer on earlier instalments of the franchise. The film is produced by Lori Forte and Patrick Worlock, with animation handled under 20th Century Animation.

Production for the film was first announced during D23 Brazil in 2024, positioning the project as part of Disney's broader strategy of reviving established intellectual properties following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets and the shutdown of Blue Sky Studios in 2021.

Industry observers note that the revival reflects Disney's ongoing push to leverage legacy animated franchises for global theatrical audiences, particularly as studios look to balance original storytelling with proven intellectual property.

While the teaser offers only brief glimpses of the storyline, it suggests an expanded "Lost World" mythology and a larger-scale adventure for the returning characters. A full-length trailer is expected to be released in late 2026, ahead of the film's global rollout in 2027.