Disney has cancelled the plannedThe Princess and the FrogDisney+ sequel show,Tiana, as it rethinks its streaming strategy. Released in 2009,The Princess and the Frogintroduced audiences to the first ever Black Disney princess with Anika Noni Rose’s Tiana. The film earned positive reviews and was a box office success, though it didn’t reach the same highs as many other animated Disney movies. TheTianasequel showwas first announced in 2020 with Rose expected to reprise her role and a release expected in 2024, but there’s been little word on the project since.
THRnowreports thatDisney is moving away from making any longform streaming content, and that has resulted inTianabeing cancelled. The company has also scrapped an unannounced feature-length project that would have debuted on Disney+. This change in direction will result in layoffs at the company’s Vancouver studio, a spokesperson confirmed toTHR.
Sources tellTHRthatTianawasn’t coming together creatively in a way that justified its hefty production costs. DespiteTianabeing scrapped,a short-form special inspired byThe Princess and the Frogis reported to be in early development. Joyce Sherri and Steve Anderson will direct this mysterious new special, with Sherri also writing. It remains unclear if it will bringThe Princess and the Frogstar Anika Noni Rose back as Tiana, as was planned for the series.
What Tiana’s Cancellation Means For Disney+
Disney’s Shift In Strategy Explained
The Princess & The Frog: 10 Best Quotes
With toe-tapping musical numbers, great characters, and important life lessons, The Princess and the Frog has a number of memorable quotes.
Tiana’s cancellation follows an announcement last year stating that Pixar would no longer be prioritizing the development of any longform content for Disney+. This announcement arrived after the release ofDream Productions, anInside Outspinoff show. It’s notable thatthis change in strategy also follows the release ofMoana 2in theaters last November, a movie that started life as a Disney+ sequel series before being retooled into a theatrical event.Moana 2reviewsmay not have been glowing from critics, but the film grossed a staggering $1.053 billion worldwide.
Our Take On Tiana’s Cancellation
Even thoughThe Princess and the Frogmay not have been as big of a hit as Disney may have hoped, it was still an important movie since it introduced the first BlackDisney princess. A full-blown movie sequel may not have been on the table, but a Disney+ sequel series seemed like an interesting way to continue that story. The announcement thatTianais cancelled is sure to be a disappointment to those who enjoyed the original movie.
The Princess and the Frogenjoys a strong 85% onRotten Tomatoes.
It’s possible that Tiana’s time in the Disney universe isn’t finished, however. No details have emerged about this short-form special that is being developed, but it could well bringTianaback. For now, though, it looks like it could be quite some time before morePrincess and the Frogcontent is released.
