Disney Pushes Back Ice Age 6, Reveals New Title
The Ice Age herd isn’t quite ready to return to theaters just yet. At this year’s D23 event, Disney officially announced that the sixth main installment of the Ice Age franchise will now be titled Ice Age: Boiling Point and is scheduled to hit theaters in February 2027.
Originally slated for a December 18, 2026 release, the animated film’s debut has been delayed by about six weeks. While not a major setback, the shift gives the creative team extra time to polish what is expected to be a high-profile return for the billion-dollar franchise.
Alongside the new release date, Disney teased that the film will once again take Manny, Sid, Diego, and the rest of the herd into the treacherous Lost World, a mysterious dinosaur-filled realm that has been central to previous installments.
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Who’s Returning for Ice Age: Boiling Point?
The cast list promises plenty of familiar voices. John Leguizamo, Ray Romano, and Denis Leary are all set to reprise their iconic roles as Sid the sloth, Manny the mammoth, and Diego the saber-toothed tiger. Queen Latifah will return as Ellie, while Simon Pegg is once again lending his voice to the fan-favorite one-eyed weasel, Buck Wild.
The movie will mark the franchise’s first theatrical release since 2016’s Ice Age: Collision Course and comes five years after the Disney+ spinoff The Adventures of Buck Wild (2022).
What the New Title Suggests
The subtitle Boiling Point has already sparked speculation about the plot. Could the prehistoric crew be facing the effects of climate change in their own world?
While the franchise has never taken a historically accurate approach to Earth’s past—Collision Course, for example, revolved around a doomsday asteroid—the name could hint at rising planetary temperatures or a more metaphorical “boiling point” as tensions build within the herd.
It’s worth noting that Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) already tackled the theme of global warming, which suggests this new title may lean more on character-driven conflict or high-stakes survival rather than another environmental catastrophe.
Back to the Lost World
Perhaps the biggest confirmation from Disney’s announcement is the return to the Lost World, the underground land of dinosaurs introduced in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009).
This setting has been one of the franchise’s most visually dynamic and popular backdrops, offering opportunities for new characters, creatures, and comedic set pieces. Fans of Buck Wild, whose character thrives in that environment, can expect the Lost World to play a significant role in the upcoming film.
A Quick Look Back: The Ice Age Franchise
Since its debut in 2002, Ice Age has grown into one of the most successful animated franchises worldwide, grossing over $6 billion across films, shorts, and merchandise. Below is a snapshot of the series so far:
- Ice Age (2002)
- Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
- Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
- Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
- The Adventures of Buck Wild (2022, Disney+ spinoff)
- Ice Age: Boiling Point (2027)
What to Expect Next
Although no footage has been released yet, the relatively short delay suggests that production is running smoothly. With three years until its debut, Disney is expected to reveal more about Ice Age: Boiling Point in the coming months, likely including teaser trailers and story details at upcoming industry events.
For longtime fans, the announcement is a reminder that Manny, Sid, Diego, and company aren’t going extinct anytime soon. Instead, they’re gearing up for another prehistoric adventure—this time, one that just might test the herd like never before.
