WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS PULLS THE PLUG ON ‘TIANA’ SERIES
First announced in December of 2020, the Tiana series was set to hit Disney+ as a musical featuring Anika Noni Rose, reprising her role as Tiana from the 2009 box office hit, The Princess and the Frog. Well, Walt Disney Animation Studios recently announced that they are pulling the plug, shelving the highly-anticipated series.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Walt Disney Animation Studios is abandoning making original longform content series that was geared towards airing on the streaming service, Disney+. Additionally, a spokesperson for the company also confirmed that layoffs are on the horizon for some in the Vancouver studio, aiding to the shift in production goals.
However, the Tiana series isn’t the only project that is getting the ax. Walt Disney Animation Studios is also halting production on an unannounced feature-length project that was also set to go straight to the entertainment giant’s streaming service.
Despite the fact that the Tiana series has been cancelled as a longform project for the animation studio, there may be a sliver of hope for fans in the future. Sources close to the streaming series say that the studio is developing a separate shortform special inspired by movie, The Princess and the Frog. The project is in its early stages of development.
Excitement began to build around the release of the series, last year. If you remember, the popular Splash Mountain attraction was revamped and phased out at both of Disney’s U.S. parks and transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Stella Meghie was tapped to write and direct the anticipated series. This would have been her first opportunity to direct an animation series. At the time, Meghie said that she was “consumed by” the character of the Disney princess and that she was excited to embark upon this new “creative journey.”
It is looking as if there is no opportunity for Meghie to transition to writing for the shortform series. Although additional details about the project have been remained confidential at this point, insiders say that Joyce Sherri has been tapped as director and writer, and Steve Anderson will join Sherri as director as well.
Photo: Disney