‘The Princess and the Frog’ Star Anika Noni Rose Speaks Out on Disney+ Series Being Shelved: “Deeply Disappointed”
After Walt Disney Animation Studios pulled the plug on its Tiana princess series, the film’s original star Anika Noni Rose is speaking out on the decision.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the actress, known for voicing Princess Tiana in Disney’s 2009 film The Princess and the Frog, addressed the news of the series being shelved, which was exclusively reported by The Hollywood Reporter on March 3.
“Last week an announcement was made regarding the cancellation of the series, Tiana,” she shared in a statement on Instagram. “I’ve been getting loads of messages expressing kindness, support and overwhelming disappointment.”
“I too am deeply disappointed that the continuation of Tiana’s journey in series form has been cut short. The series was a long time coming, and a lot of beautiful work was put into it by all of the creatives involved,” she continued, crediting “long time champion” Jenn Lee, writer-director Joyce Sherri and the “fabulous animators” and “amazing music team.”
“As hurtful as it is for anything you’ve put your heart and soul in to be prematurely ended, my hope is that when what is now to be a ‘Tiana Special Event’ airs that all of your beautiful, loving, loyal fans who’ve been championing not just the series, but a Princess And The Frog sequel, tune in,” she continued.
She then encouraged those that loved the original film to “show your love and desire in the numbers” and “make that desire an undeniable and real thing.”
“Until then, we will be continuing to work hard to bring you the most beautiful content we can,” she concluded.
A Tiana series was first announced in December 2020 and was envisioned as a musical featuring Rose reprising her role as Tiana. However, sources close to the streaming series say that despite best efforts, Tiana ultimately could not get to where it needed to be given production costs.
The animation studio is said to developing a separate shortform special inspired by The Princess and the Frog, which is currently in early development with Sherri attached as writer-director and Steve Anderson also directing.
Last December, The Princess and the Frog celebrated its 15th anniversary. When reflecting on the film’s impact at the time, Rose said in an interview with People magazine that it’s still “mind-blowing” to see the impact Tiana had on young girls at the time and still does now, as well as how she’s allowed “to touch in with children in a different way.” She has also “seen children of all different ethnicities, all different backgrounds” wearing her character’s signature green gown at events.
“When I’m thinking of Black or brown-skinned adults, we spent so much time growing up trying to fit into another standard of beauty. And now, at this point, those children, these new children, are comfortable within themselves in different ways,” she said. “They don’t think anything of putting on their Tiana dress. You can’t tell them they’re not Tiana. It’s not about the fact they’re not brown. They still feel like they’re Tiana.”
The Princess and the Frog was released on Dec. 11, 2009. Bruno Campos, Jennifer Cody, Keith David, Randy Newman, John Goodman and Oprah Winfrey also voice-starred in Disney’s fairytale set in Jazz Age-era New Orleans and centered on young Princess Tiana and a frog prince who wants to return to human form.
Pamela McClintock contributed to this story.
Source: Hollywoodreporter
