'The Princess and the Frog' Special With Original Cast Officially Confirmed for Disney+ [Exclusive]

Considering Disney has been so proactive in delivering new sequels, spin-offs, and even more exclusive content for Disney+, it’s remarkable that this particular project has taken so long to get off the ground. But worry not, dear fans, because the gumbo and the beignets are on their way back as one of Disney’s most underrated movies is finally getting a second chance in the spotlight, despite a shock cancellation last year.

Speaking exclusively with Collider’s Steve Weintraub at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush has officially confirmed that The Princess and the Frog will be returning in the form of a brand new project, featuring new songs and members of the original cast. It’ll be a complete story, rather than an ongoing television series, with Bush describing it as something closer to a television special. Asked about Disney’s reduced output of original programming for Disney+, Bush revealed:

“Well, there is something we’ve actually been working on. It is a special set in the world of The Princess and the Frog. 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.”

“Well, there is something we’ve actually been working on. It is a special set in the world of The Princess and the Frog. 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.”

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Disney’s ‘Princess and the Frog’ Special Is Finally Moving Forward

• Image via Walt Disney Co./courtesy Everett Collection

• Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

• Image via Walt Disney Animation

• Image via Walt Disney.

Image via Walt Disney Co./courtesy Everett Collection

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Image via Walt Disney Animation

Image via Walt Disney.

It’s a huge revelation because Disney has had trouble with Tiana over the past few years. Originally, there was the musical series, Tiana, set to debut on Disney+, with Anika Noni Rose reprising her role as the beloved princess. However, in March 2025, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Disney had shelved the project as part of a wider corporate decision to move away from producing long-form animation for streaming. At the time, Disney was already developing a separate special inspired by The Princess and the Frog, but we didn’t know much about it — until now, that is, as Bush has confirmed that a full musical story is actively being produced, rather than a collection of animated shorts. Additionally, Bush was guarded when it came to confirming when exactly we could expect to see it and how long it would be. He told Collider:

“I’m hesitant to give you the specifics. I’d say it probably will feel more like a special to people. So, it’s not shorts. It’s a full story with a lot of songs as part of it. We have not announced a specific timing of that yet. I’ll get back to you on that. But there are other projects in similar veins, and I think that that’s a great way for us to experiment with some things and also to revisit worlds that I think people want to see.”

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“I’m hesitant to give you the specifics. I’d say it probably will feel more like a special to people. So, it’s not shorts. It’s a full story with a lot of songs as part of it. We have not announced a specific timing of that yet. I’ll get back to you on that. But there are other projects in similar veins, and I think that that’s a great way for us to experiment with some things and also to revisit worlds that I think people want to see.”

For fans who’ve spent years waiting for Tiana’s next adventure, the news is certainly encouraging. While Disney has yet to reveal which original cast members are returning, the story, or when the special will premiere, Bush’s comments confirm that the world of The Princess and the Frog is finally getting another musical adventure.

The original The Princess and the Frog is streaming now on Disney+. The new animated special is in active production, with a release date yet to be announced. Stay tuned at Collider for more.

The Princess and the Frog

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