Scoop of the Day
The company reassesses its approach to the streaming shows and movies
Disney has decided to scrap the upcoming Disney+ sequel series, Tianna, which was based on the beloved film The Princess and The Frog. This decision comes as the company reassesses its streaming strategy moving forward. Released in 2009, The Princess and the Frog made history by featuring Disney’s first-ever Black princess, portrayed by Anika Noni Rose.
Film’s Feedback
The film received favorable reviews and proved to be a commercial success, although it did not achieve the same level of acclaim as many other animated classics from Disney. The sequel series was initially announced in 2020, with Rose set to reprise her iconic role and a planned release for 2024. However, there has been minimal communication regarding the status of the project since that announcement.
@The HollyWood Reporter
According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is shifting its focus away from producing lengthy streaming content, leading to the cancellation of the Tiana series. In addition to this decision, the company has also halted work on an unnamed feature-length project that was intended for release on Disney+.
This strategic pivot is expected to result in job cuts at Disney’s studio in Vancouver, as confirmed by a spokesperson.Insider sources have indicated to @THR that the creative aspects of the film Tiana were not developing in a manner that would justify the substantial costs associated with its production. However, despite the cancellation of the series, there are early-stage plans for a short-form special inspired by The Princess and the Frog which suggests that some elements of the original story may still find a way to reach audiences.
Joyce Sherri and Steve Anderson are set to take the helm as directors of an intriguing new special, with Sherri also contributing as the writer. It is still unknown whether Anika Noni Rose will reprise her role as Tiana, a role she was originally slated to play in the now-cancelled series. The project’s initial announcement took place during the tenure of former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, a time when the company was eager to boost its subscriber base for Disney+.
Disney’s Investment ✨
The strategy to achieve this goal included a significant investment in content creation. However, as the streaming landscape has evolved to emphasize profitability rather than merely increasing subscriber counts, Disney and other companies are pivoting their approaches, and unfortunately, Tiana has become one of the casualties of this shift.
The decision to cancel Tiana comes on the heels of last year’s declaration that Pixar would no longer focus on producing longform content for Disney+. This announcement followed the launch of Dream Productions, a spinoff series from Inside Out.
It’s significant to mention that this shift in strategy comes on the heels of the theatrical release of Moana 2 last November. Originally intended as a sequel series for Disney+, the film was reimagined as a major cinematic event. While critics’ reviews for Moana 2 weren’t overwhelmingly positive, the movie achieved remarkable success at the box office, earning over $1.053 billion globally. Although The Princess and the Frog may not have reached the level of success that Disney anticipated, it held considerable importance as it marked the debut of the first Black Disney princess.
While a full-fledged sequel film might not have been in the cards, the idea of a sequel series on Disney+ appeared to be a creative way to extend the narrative. The news of the cancellation of Tiana will likely disappoint fans who cherished the original movie.
Will there be more of Princess Tiana?!?!
However, there may still be hope for Tiana’s future within the Disney realm. Though specific information about the upcoming short-form special remains under wraps, it holds the potential to reintroduce Tiana to audiences. For the moment, though, it seems that fans may have to wait a while before any new content related to The Princess and the Frog is made available.
