Disney is developing a new live-action film centered on Princess Tiana, with Emmy-winning and two-time Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo and acclaimed playwright-director Robert O’Hara in talks to write the project. The film is in the very early stages of development and is described as an original story inspired by Disney’s 2009 animated classic The Princess and the Frog, rather than a direct live-action remake.
According to multiple reports, the project remains in its early development phase, with no director, cast, or release date attached. If finalized, Domingo and O’Hara would collaborate on a fresh story featuring one of Disney’s most beloved modern princesses, expanding her world beyond the events of the original film.
Released in 2009, The Princess and the Frog marked Disney’s return to traditional hand-drawn animation and introduced Princess Tiana, the studio’s first Black Disney Princess. Set in 1920s New Orleans, the musical fantasy follows Tiana, an ambitious waitress who dreams of opening her own restaurant. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she kisses the frog prince Naveen in an attempt to break his curse, only to become a frog herself. Together, the pair embark on a magical journey through the Louisiana bayou while facing the sinister Dr. Facilier.
Directed by Disney veterans Ron Clements and John Musker, the film earned $267 million worldwide and received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Animated Feature and two Best Original Song nominations for Randy Newman’s “Almost There” and “Down in New Orleans.” Over the years, the film has become one of Disney’s most celebrated modern animated features, with Tiana emerging as one of the company’s most popular princesses.
While Disney’s planned Tiana animated series for Disney+ was ultimately shelved, the character has continued to grow in popularity. In 2024, Disney completed the transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, further cementing the princess’s place within the company’s theme parks and broader franchise.
The reported involvement of Domingo and O’Hara signals an interesting creative direction for the project. Domingo has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors through acclaimed performances in Rustin, Sing Sing, and The Color Purple, while also building a career as a playwright and filmmaker. O’Hara, meanwhile, is best known for directing the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production of Slave Play and for his work as an award-winning playwright.
Unlike many of Disney’s recent live-action projects, which have largely recreated their animated predecessors, the Princess Tiana film is reportedly being developed as an original story. That approach could allow Disney to expand the character’s world with new adventures while preserving the legacy of the original animated feature.
Although negotiations are still ongoing and the project remains in its infancy, Disney’s continued investment in Tiana demonstrates the enduring popularity of the character more than 15 years after her big-screen debut. If the project moves forward, it would mark the latest effort to build on one of the studio’s most significant and beloved animated heroines.
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