Disney to develop Princess Tiana film, Domingo in talks

Disney is developing a new live-action film centered on Princess Tiana, with actor and writer Colman Domingo in talks to co-write the project. According to multiple reports, Domingo would collaborate with Tony-nominated director and playwright Robert O'Hara on the screenplay, though formal deals have not yet closed. The project, which remains in early development, is described not as a direct remake of the 2009 animated film "The Princess and the Frog," but as an original story inspired by its world and characters, akin to a spinoff or reimagining.

The original animated feature, released in 2009, was the last traditionally hand-drawn film from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Set in 1920s New Orleans, it follows Tiana, a hardworking waitress and aspiring restaurateur, who kisses a prince turned into a frog by the villainous Dr. Facilier. The kiss transforms her into a frog as well, leading the pair on an adventure through the bayou to break the curse. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature, and introduced the character of Tiana, who became Disney's first Black princess.

The new film joins a crowded slate of live-action adaptations and...