Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jared Bush has confirmed that a new special set in the world of The Princess and the Frog is in active production. And for fans disappointed by the cancellation of the planned Disney+ series, original cast members are returning and new songs are on the way.
Speaking with Collider about Disney Animation's plans for Disney+, Bush offered an encouraging update on the project.
“Well, there is something we've actually been working on. It is a special set in the world of The Princess and the Frog,” he revealed. “We are really moving on that right now. So, that's actually in active production. That will be out to people soon. New songs. Original cast. It is pretty spectacular.”
Disney canceled its planned Tiana series in March 2025, as the studio moved away from producing original longform content for Disney+. The musical follow-up had been announced in 2020, with Anika Noni Rose attached to reprise her role as Tiana. Reporting at the time also revealed that a separate special inspired by the movie was in early development.
Asked whether the project would be a short, a roughly 30-minute episode, or something else, Bush stopped short of confirming a runtime.
“I'm hesitant to give you the specifics. I'd say it probably will feel more like a special to people,” he explained. “So, it's not shorts. It's a full story with a lot of songs as part of it.”
Bush didn't reveal the returning performers individually, however, or reveal who will be writing the new songs. There's also no release date yet, and when Collider suggested a possible 2027 debut, Bush declined to confirm the year.
“We have not announced a specific timing of that yet. I'll get back to you on that," Bush said.
He did tease that Disney Animation has other projects “in similar veins,” describing the format as a way to experiment while revisiting worlds audiences want to see again.
While we're still sad about the cancellation of the prevoius Tiana stories, another musical story set in The Princess and the Frog's world is reason to celebrate. Let's just hope it's something substantial and not a quick scheme to capitalize on a property that has blown up in popularity in recent year.
The Princess and the Frog opened on December 11, 2009, and earned roughly $267 million worldwide against a reported $105 million production budget. While those numbers didn't put it among Disney's biggest animated hits, Tiana's story has remained part of the company's plans. The film received a fresh spotlight in 2024 with the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, bringing its characters and music to a new generation of parkgoers.