Anika Noni Rose is breaking her silence over Disney’s decision earlier this month not to move forward with Tiana, an animated musical series offshoot of The Princess and the Frog movie set for Disney+.
First announced in December 2020, the project was expected to feature Rose reprising her role as Tiana from the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog, which revolved around Disney’s first Black princess.
“Last week an announcement was made regarding the cancellation of the series, Tiana,” she began in a statement shared 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,” adding that the highly anticipated series adaptation had been a “long time coming” and involved “a lot of beautiful work was put into it by all the creatives involved.”
“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.
“And when I say tune in, I mean, tell your friends, family, coworkers, babysitters, tell all the people you know who have loved Princess Tiana, Naveen, Louis, Charlotte, Mama Odie, and the magic they’ve created over the years and make sure you are watching. Show your love and desire in the numbers. Make that desire an undeniable and real thing.”
She adds: “Until then, we will be continuing to work hard to bring you the most beautiful content we can.”
Set in New Orleans during the 1920s, The Princess and the Frog film tells the story of a hardworking waitress named Tiana who dreams of opening her own restaurant. After kissing prince Naveen, who has been turned into a frog by the evil voodoo witch doctor Facilier, Tiana becomes a frog as well and the two must find a way to turn human again before it is too late.
In addition to Rose, the film starred Bruno Campos, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jim Cummings, Jennifer Cody, John Goodman, Keith David, Peter Bartlett, Jenifer Lewis, Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard.
The film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and produced by Peter Del Vecho, from a screenplay co-written by Clements and Musker with Rob Edwards. Musker and Clements also co-wrote the story with writing duo Greg Erb and Jazson Oremland.
You can read Rose’s Instagram post in full below.
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