It looks like Disney’s 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog is getting an unlikely sequel. The story of Tiana and Naveen will continue in the form of Splash Mountain’s redesign. Walt Disney’s Parks division unveiled brand new concept art and even story details on the franchise’s continuation. Guests will join Tiana, as she plans a Mardi Gras celebration with Naveen and the loveable trumpet-playing alligator Louis.
They’ve also unveiled that the ride will include original songs inspired by the original’s soundtrack. Their goal was to incorporate the culture of New Orleans into the ride’s “look and feel, from sounds to visuals.” They’ve also commissioned paintings by artist Sharika Mahdi to truly bring the conceptualization to life.
The first announcement of the Splash Mountain revamp came back in June 2020 due to its design being based on the controversial 1946 film Song of the South. Jungle Cruise, which recently also got a film adaptation, also got some rework regarding questionable depictions of native people. There are still no official opening dates given at Disneyland or Disney World.
It’s not the only franchise expansion for The Princess and the Frog, as Tiana is getting her very own series on Disney+. Not much is known about the project besides the fact that it’ll be a long-form musical comedy. Reports indicate it will also act as a sequel to the original film. If it does, the series might even reference the Mardi Gras party.
