Nick Jonas Almost Voiced Kristoff In Frozen

Nick Jonas says he once auditioned to voice Kristoff in Frozen, but admits he “bombed” the audition and ultimately lost the role to Jonathan Groff.

Nick Jonas Almost Joined The World Of Frozen

August 20, 2026 – Nick Jonas could have been part of one of Disney’s biggest animated franchises.

The singer and actor recently revealed that he auditioned for the role of Kristoff in Frozen, the 2013 animated blockbuster that introduced audiences to Elsa, Anna, Olaf and the kingdom of Arendelle.

Jonas ultimately did not get the part. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he reflected on the audition and admitted that he did not exactly leave Disney executives impressed.

“I bombed it,” Jonas said while discussing his attempt to land the role.

The admission offers a fun behind-the-scenes look at how differently Frozen might have sounded if Jonas had been cast as Anna’s eventual love interest.

Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC; Disney

He Was Trying To Land Kristoff

Kristoff is introduced in Frozen as a rugged ice harvester who becomes an important ally to Anna during her journey to find Elsa.

The character is also known for his friendship with Sven, his loyal reindeer companion. Over the course of the movie, Kristoff develops a romantic relationship with Anna, becoming one of the central characters in the story.

Jonathan Groff ultimately provided Kristoff’s voice and went on to reprise the role in Frozen II.

Jonas’ revelation means he was once considered for a character who would become one of the most recognizable male characters in Disney’s modern animated lineup.

The Audition Did Not Go As Planned

Jonas’ description of his audition suggests that the opportunity was significant, but the performance itself did not go the way he hoped.

The actor and musician had already established himself as a performer before Frozen arrived. As a member of the Jonas Brothers, he had become a major Disney-associated star, while his acting career included projects for television and film.

That background could have made him an interesting choice for the studio. However, landing an animated role requires more than name recognition, particularly when performers need to establish a character through their voice alone.

In Jonas’ case, the audition simply did not work out.

Jonathan Groff Became Kristoff

The role eventually went to Jonathan Groff, whose performance became an important part of the Frozen movies.

Groff brought a distinctive voice and comedic timing to Kristoff, particularly through the character’s interactions with Sven. His performance also helped establish the relationship between Kristoff and Anna as the story progressed.

Groff returned for Frozen II, continuing the character’s story as Kristoff attempted to figure out how to propose to Anna.

Looking back, it is difficult to imagine the character without Groff’s voice. Yet Jonas’ revelation shows that the casting process could have produced a very different version of Kristoff.

Credit: Disney; Kristina Bumphrey/WWD

Jonas Has A Long Disney Connection

Jonas was already familiar to Disney audiences when Frozen was being developed.

His career with the Jonas Brothers helped make him one of the network’s most recognizable young stars. The group appeared in Disney projects and became closely associated with the company’s music and television programming during the late 2000s.

Jonas also starred in Disney’s Camp Rock movies alongside Demi Lovato and his brothers.

That connection makes his Frozen audition particularly interesting. He was already a familiar face and voice to the company’s audience, but the role ultimately went in another direction.

Frozen Became A Massive Success

Frozen was released in 2013 and quickly became a global phenomenon.

The movie centered on sisters Anna and Elsa, with Elsa struggling to control her ice powers after accidentally plunging Arendelle into an eternal winter.

Its songs, characters and story became major parts of popular culture. “Let It Go,” performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa, became one of Disney’s most recognizable songs, while Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad, became a breakout character.

Kristoff also became an important part of the franchise, making Jonas’ failed audition an intriguing piece of Frozen history.

The Franchise Continued With Frozen II

The success of the original film led to Frozen II in 2019.

The sequel expanded Elsa and Anna’s story while giving Kristoff a larger role. His attempt to propose to Anna became one of the movie’s recurring comedic storylines, eventually leading to the character’s long-awaited engagement.

Jonas could therefore have had a very different career connection to the franchise if his original audition had gone differently.

Instead, his involvement remains an interesting “what if” from the casting process.

Jonas Has Plenty Of Acting Experience

Although he did not become Kristoff, Jonas continued developing his acting career.

He has appeared in films including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level, as well as television projects and Broadway productions.

His ability to move between music and acting has remained a defining part of his career, making the Frozen audition another example of the different paths his career could have taken.

For fans, the story is also a reminder that even established performers can audition for major roles and walk away without getting the part.

A Fun Frozen What-If

Had Jonas landed Kristoff, audiences would have heard a very different version of the character throughout Frozen.

Instead, Groff’s performance became permanently associated with the role, while Jonas moved forward with other acting and music projects.

His willingness to admit that he “bombed” the audition also makes the story more entertaining. Rather than presenting the missed opportunity as a major regret, Jonas appears able to look back at the experience with humor.

And considering how successful his own career became, the failed audition clearly did not stop him from finding plenty of other opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Nick Jonas may have missed out on voicing Kristoff in Frozen, but his candid admission gives fans a fascinating glimpse into the movie’s early casting process.

Jonathan Groff ultimately made the role his own, while Jonas continued building a successful career across music, film, television and theater. Sometimes, even a failed audition becomes a memorable piece of a star’s career story.