Oscar nominee and Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo is heading back to the world of Disney. The acclaimed actor is teaming up with acclaimed playwright and Slave Play director Robert O’Hara to develop a live-action film inspired by Disney’s beloved Princess Tiana.
The project is still in the early stages of development and is based on an original story inspired by Disney’s 2009 animated hit, The Princess and the Frog. The beloved film featured Anika Noni Rose as the voice of Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess.
Set in 1920s New Orleans, The Princess and the Frog follows ambitious waitress Tiana, whose dream of owning her own restaurant takes an unexpected turn after she kisses Prince Naveen, who has been transformed into a frog. Instead of breaking the spell, Tiana is magically turned into a frog herself, sending the pair on a memorable adventure through the Louisiana bayou.
The animated feature earned more than $267 million worldwide and received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Animated Feature, along with nominations for Randy Newman’s original songs “Almost There” and “Down in New Orleans.”
Although Disney ultimately shelved plans for a Princess and the Frog spin-off series, Princess Tiana’s popularity has only continued to grow. The company recently honored the fan-favorite character by transforming the iconic Splash Mountain attraction into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, further cementing her place as one of Disney’s most beloved princesses.
Colman Domingo has been having one of the biggest years of his career, balancing Emmy-nominated television performances with starring roles in two major films. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the acclaimed actor reflected on everything from his transformation into Joe Jackson for Michael to the surprising sitcom inspiration behind his role in The Four Seasons.
Before diving into his latest projects, Domingo shared a funny behind-the-scenes story from Oscar night, revealing that fellow nominee Monica Barbaro unexpectedly came to his rescue after he lost track of his transportation just minutes before the ceremony. Domingo recalled that Barbaro spotted him in the chaos and invited him into her vehicle, joking that she became his “savior” by making sure he arrived at the Oscars on time.
When asked about portraying Joe Jackson in the highly anticipated film Michael, Domingo explained that the physical transformation alone required two and a half hours of prosthetics each day. But for him, the makeup was only one part of the process.
The actor revealed that he immerses himself in research as soon as he’s cast, often spending around 40 hours each week studying the person he’ll portray. Rather than simply mimicking mannerisms or voices, Domingo said his goal is to uncover the emotional core of the individual.
“I want to find the soul of a person,” he explained, adding that he believes it’s important to advocate for the humanity of every character he plays.
That philosophy also extends to his upcoming Nat King Cole biopic, another passion project he has been developing for years. Domingo said he enjoys portraying well-known historical figures but approaches each role by discovering how their spirit naturally lives within him instead of relying on imitation.
After taking on several emotionally intense roles, Domingo welcomed the chance to showcase his comedic side in Netflix’s The Four Seasons. He said Tina Fey’s invitation to join the ensemble cast was an easy yes, especially since it offered him the opportunity to flex comedic muscles audiences haven’t seen in quite some time.
One of the interview’s most entertaining revelations came when Domingo admitted that his inspiration for playing Danny in The Four Seasons was none other than Bea Arthur’s iconic portrayal of Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls.
He explained that Danny serves as the grounded, dry-witted voice of reason amid a group of larger-than-life personalities qualities he borrowed directly from Arthur’s unforgettable performance. Domingo also confessed that he watches The Golden Girls nearly every night before bed, proving his fandom by breezing through an impromptu trivia challenge with Fallon.
Domingo ended the conversation by reflecting on his Emmy-nominated work in HBO’s Euphoria, calling it one of the most meaningful experiences of his career.
He credited creator Sam Levinson with giving him one of the most important roles he’s ever played, describing his character as both the conscience of the series and someone who experiences an extraordinary emotional journey. Domingo praised his scenes with Zendaya, saying the two love working opposite each other and that being part of the acclaimed drama has truly been “the experience of a lifetime.”
