In a surprising move, Walt Disney Animation Studios has canceled the highly anticipated Disney+ sequel series, Tiana, which was set to continue the adventures of characters from The Princess and the Frog. This decision comes amidst rollbacks at the studio and follows a shift away from diversity in other projects, including the removal of a transgender storyline from Pixar’s Win or Lose series.

The Princess and the Frog series would have seen the return of film star Anika Noni Rose, reprising her role as Princess Tiana, with the character navigating her life as New Orleans royalty, embarking on new musical adventures, and building her culinary empire as a powerful Black woman restaurateur. This storyline was hinted at in the ending of the 2D animated film and is also featured in the newly opened theme park ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

According to insiders close to the production of Tiana, who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, despite efforts to revamp the creative team, the series ultimately could not move forward due to production costs. This decision aligns with Disney and Pixar’s broader strategy to halt development on long-form episodic series for their streaming platform.

Instead, the animation studio is shifting its focus to developing a short-form special inspired by The Princess and the Frog, currently in its early stages of development. Joyce Sherri is attached as director and writer, with Steve Anderson co-directing. While details are scarce, it is described as a new story inspired by the film, which hopefully will offer a fresh narrative rather than rehashing events from the original movie. The character of Tiana deserves a story that progresses, incorporating the magic and larger aspirations set in New Orleans.

A silver lining could be that this cancellation might pave the way for a feature-length film, similar to the successful pivot from series to film seen with Moana 2, which grossed over $1 billion at the global box office and is expected to perform well on Disney+. This precedent offers a glimmer of hope that Tiana could receive the royal treatment with a big-screen sequel, one that the princess truly deserves.

Although the news of Tiana‘s cancellation is disappointing, it might signal a step towards a more significant and impactful release. Fans can hold onto the hope that Tiana will eventually get the big-screen sequel it deserves, providing a fitting continuation of Princess Tiana’s journey.

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