Based on the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog, the Tiana TV series was announced in late 2020 and has kept its development under wraps ever since. However, exciting new are now official about the production of Disney+. Variety announced that Joyce Sherri, known for her work on Netflix's horror miniseries Midnight Mass (2021), will direct and write the series, bringing her talents to the Tiana universe.
The original animated film marked the close of an era in Disney's hand-drawn animation, telling the story of Tiana, a hard-working woman who longs to open her own restaurant in New Orleans. After receiving a magical kiss that transforms her into a frog, she sets out on an adventure to undo the spell and regain her human form. This new series promises to take the young woman down unexpected paths. The synopsis so far is: "The protagonist embarks on a new adventure as the newly crowned Princess of Maldonia, but a call to her New Orleans past will not be long in coming."
The executive producers this time are Jennifer Lee, Stella Meghie and Nathan Curtis. Meghie originally held the role of lead writer and director before Sherri joined the project. Although no one knows the reason for her departure, Meghie will continue to be part of the creative process.
Anika Noni Rose, who voiced Tiana in the original film, will return to reprise her role in the series. Although the series will debut in 2023, its release now will be in 2024. In the meantime, this project joins a large roster of animated spin-offs such as Cars: Adventures on the Road (Cars on the Road - 2022), Big Heroes (Big Hero 6 - 2014) and Zootopia (2016), expanding its universe.
