After years of uncertainty surrounding Princess Tiana’s future, Disney may finally be ready to give one of its most beloved modern princesses the spotlight she deserves.
According to multiple reports, Emmy nominee and two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo is in talks to co-write an original live-action feature inspired by The Princess and the Frog alongside acclaimed playwright and director Robert O’Hara. While the project remains in the early stages and deals have not yet been finalized, the film is reportedly being developed as a spinoff rather than a direct live-action remake of the 2009 animated classic.
The news marks a significant shift in Disney’s plans for Tiana. In 2020, the studio announced Tiana, a long-form animated musical series for Disney+ that would continue the princess’ story years after the events of The Princess and the Frog. The project spent several years in development and generated excitement among fans eager to see Disney’s first Black princess return. However, earlier this year, Disney officially scrapped the series as part of a broader change in its animation strategy.
Rather than ending Tiana’s journey altogether, Disney pivoted. The studio is now developing two new projects centered on the character: a short-form animated special that continues her story and this newly reported live-action feature from Domingo and O’Hara.
Released in 2009, The Princess and the Frog introduced audiences to Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess. Set in 1920s New Orleans, the film follows the hardworking waitress whose lifelong dream is to open her own restaurant. After kissing the cursed Prince Naveen in hopes of breaking the spell placed on him by the villainous Dr. Facilier, Tiana is transformed into a frog herself. Their journey through the Louisiana bayou becomes a story about perseverance, love, ambition and believing that dreams require both hard work and heart.
Although the film earned nearly $267 million worldwide and received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Animated Feature and two nominations for Randy Newman’s original songs, many fans have long felt Tiana deserved a larger presence within Disney’s lineup. The character has remained culturally significant, with “Almost There” becoming one of Disney’s most celebrated modern princess anthems.
Domingo and O’Hara bring impressive storytelling credentials to the project beyond their acclaimed work on screen and stage. Domingo wrote the book for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, co-produced the Tony-nominated Fat Ham, and has written numerous plays throughout his career. O’Hara is best known for directing the Tony-nominated Slave Playand writing acclaimed works including Bootycandy and Insurrection: Holding History.
The project arrives during another milestone year for Domingo, who recently earned two Emmy nominations for Netflix’s The Four Seasons and HBO’s Euphoria. He also remains one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors following consecutive Oscar nominations for Rustin and Sing Sing.
While Disney’s live-action adaptations have produced mixed box office results in recent years, the studio continues to see value in expanding its animated worlds. If the deal closes, Domingo and O’Hara’s take on Tiana could finally deliver the new chapter fans have been waiting for since the Disney+ series was first announced nearly six years ago.