Disney Isn’t Giving Up: Live-Action ‘Princess and the Frog’ Is Official

Disney is taking another swing at live-action – this time, with Princess and the Frog.

After years of remaking its animated classics, the studio has reached an awkward point. Some projects have earned more than $1 billion, while others have struggled under enormous budgets and intense scrutiny from longtime fans.

That problem became more obvious with Snow White in 2025 and Moana in 2026. One was criticized for changing too much. The other was accused of copying its animated predecessor too closely.

Disney is now returning to another princess — but this time, the studio is reportedly planning something different.

Disney Plans a New Story for Tiana

Colman Domingo is in talks to co-write an original live-action film inspired by The Princess and the Frog (2009), according to Deadline.

Domingo is expected to work with playwright and director Robert O’Hara. The project remains in early development, and their deals have not yet been finalized.

The proposed film is not expected to be a direct remake of the animated movie. Instead, it is reportedly being developed as a spin-off set within Tiana’s world.

That would separate it from films such as Beauty and the Beast (2017), The Little Mermaid (2023), and Moana (2026), all of which retold stories audiences already knew.

A spin-off would allow Disney to revisit Tiana, New Orleans, and the world of The Princess and the Frog without recreating the original movie scene for scene.

It could also avoid forcing a new actor to imitate Anika Noni Rose’s performance. Rose voiced Tiana in the animated film and has continued playing the character in Disney projects.

The original movie follows Tiana, a waitress working toward her dream of opening a restaurant in 1920s New Orleans.

After kissing the cursed Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), Tiana is also transformed into a frog. The pair travel through the Louisiana bayou while trying to reverse the spell.

Released in 2009, The Princess and the Frog earned approximately $267 million worldwide against a reported $105 million budget. It received three Academy Award nominations, including two for original songs.

The film also introduced Disney’s first Black princess. Unlike many earlier Disney heroines, Tiana begins the story focused on her career, savings, and plans for her own business.

However, the film was not free from criticism. Some viewers questioned why Disney’s first Black princess spent much of her movie as a frog.

Others criticized its handling of race and its portrayal of Louisiana Voodoo. Even so, the film developed a strong following after its theatrical release.

Disney Keeps Expanding Tiana’s Story

Disney has spent several years trying to build on Tiana’s popularity.

A Disney+ series was announced in 2020 and was expected to continue her story after the events of the film. The project was later canceled in 2025 as Disney Animation moved away from producing long-form streaming series.

A shorter animated special was announced instead, although Disney has shared few updates about its status.

Tiana has received far more attention inside the company’s theme parks.

Tiana’s Palace opened at Disneyland in 2023, replacing the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square. The restaurant was inspired by the business Tiana opens at the end of the film.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure followed in 2024, replacing Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

The attraction tells a new story set after the movie. Tiana is now a successful restaurant owner preparing for a Mardi Gras celebration and searching the bayou for musicians.

That continuation may offer a template for the live-action film. Rather than retelling Tiana’s transformation into a frog, Disney could focus on a new chapter in her life.

The timing is significant for the studio.

The live-action Moana opened with approximately $43 million domestically and $95 million worldwide against a reported production budget of around $250 million.

Critics argued that Moana stayed too close to the 2016 animated version, making the remake feel unnecessary. Meanwhile, audiences found fault in tiny details such as the decision to have Dwayne Johnson wear a muscle suit.

That release followed Snow White, which earned approximately $206 million worldwide against a reported $269 million budget.

Snow White faced a different problem. Its changes to familiar characters, songs, and story elements angered viewers who believed the remake moved too far from the original.

Disney now appears to be trying a third approach with Tiana.

An original spin-off can use a familiar character without inviting direct comparisons between two versions of the same movie. It could also give Tiana more time onscreen as a human.

The project is still in its earliest stages. No cast, director, filming schedule, or release date has been announced.

Domingo and O’Hara are also still in talks, meaning the film could change significantly before production begins.

Even so, Disney’s interest shows that the company is not abandoning either Tiana or its live-action strategy.

Are you excited for Disney’s new Tiana project?