Nick Jonas Reveals "Bombed" Audition for ‘Frozen’s’ Kristoff, Jokes Jonathan Groff Was Better Cast
In a surprising revelation, pop superstar and actor Nick Jonas has shared details about a past audition that could have placed him squarely in one of Disney’s most beloved animated franchises: ‘Frozen’. During a recent episode of his "Hey Jonas Podcast," the singer admitted he "bombed" his tryout for the role of Kristoff, ultimately conceding that Jonathan Groff, who secured the part, was a more fitting choice.
Jonas’s candid admission came during a conversation with original ‘Frozen’ cast members Kristen Bell (Anna), Josh Gad (Olaf), and Idina Menzel (Elsa). The discussion quickly turned to the early days of the film’s production, prompting Jonas to recall his own attempt to join the Arendelle universe.
"I auditioned for Frozen. I went in. For Kristoff," Jonas recounted. However, his preparedness for the audition was, by his own account, severely lacking. "I went in and they said, ‘Okay, what are you gonna be singing today?’ I said, ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ They said, ‘What do you mean you don’t know? Do you have your sheet music?’"
Jonas explained that he hadn’t been informed that sheet music was a requirement, leaving him scrambling to choose a musical theatre song on the spot. "I said, no, no one told me I had. Okay, let’s, and so I just said, ‘Can you play something from-‘ I don’t know what I said, some musical theater song, and I bombed the audition. It was terrible." His podcast co-hosts, no doubt amused by the anecdote, quipped in response, "That must have been why you didn’t get in."
Despite the disastrous audition, Jonas holds no ill will towards the outcome. In fact, he lightheartedly acknowledged Groff’s success in the role. "I love Jonathan Groff, but I do think it would have been better to cast me. Like, this feels real. This feels, like, authentic," he joked, before adding a sincere appreciation for the film. "Massive fans in our household. I didn’t spite watch it. I really did enjoy it the first time."
Jonathan Groff, of course, went on to become synonymous with Kristoff, lending his voice and talent to the character in the immensely successful 2013 original film and its subsequent projects.
‘Frozen’, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s 1844 fairy tale ‘The Snow Queen’, was co-directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, with Lee also penning the screenplay. The film’s star-studded vocal cast included Kristen Bell as Anna, Idina Menzel as Elsa, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff, Josh Gad as Olaf, and Santino Fontana as Hans. The immense popularity of ‘Frozen’ spawned a wildly successful franchise, including the short film ‘Frozen Fever’, the featurette ‘Olaf’s Frozen Adventure’, and the equally successful sequel ‘Frozen 2’ in 2019. Fans can also look forward to a third feature-length installment, ‘Frozen 3’, which is currently in development.
