Walt Disney Animation Studios has decided not to move forward with a The Princess and the Frog Disney+ series focused on the Tiana character.
It was announced in December 2020 that Disney was developing a long-from TV series based on the 2009 animated movie The Princess and the Frog. Anika Noni Rose was set to reprise her vocal role in the show, which would have focused on the character as she continues to explore New Orleans.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has pulled the plug on the series, as it has now been canceled.
Why did Disney cancel its The Princess and the Frog series?
Official reasons as to why Disney is no longer making the Tiana series aren’t immediately clear. The Hollywood Reporter’s article mentions that the studio is abandoning “making original longform content for streaming.”
The article further notes, “Sources close to the streaming series say that despite best efforts, including several changes to the creative team, Tiana ultimately could not get to where it needed to be given production costs.”
Additionally, the studio has canceled an untitled, feature-length animated project that was going to debut on Disney+. Further details regarding what this project may have been remain under wraps at this time.
The good news is that Walt Disney Animation Studios is now in early development on a “separate short-form special inspired by The Princess and the Frog.” Plot details remain under wraps at this time, though Joyce Sherri is attached as the director and Steve Anderson as the writer.
Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, The Princess and the Frog made approximately $271 million at the global box office. In addition to Rose, the voice cast of the movie also includes Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen, Keith David as Dr. Facilier, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, Jim Cummings as Ray, Oprah Winfrey as Eudora, Terrence Howard as James, John Goodman as Eli ‘Big Daddy’ La Bouff, and more.
The Princess and the Frog is currently available to stream on Disney+.
