Disney Picks Up Live-Action African Princess Fairy Tale Project Sadé

Disney has break up up the pitch forSadé , a lively - action fairy tale photographic film about an African princess . The project does n’t have a director in place just yet , but Rick Famuyiwa ( the filmmaker behind the acclaimed indie hitDope ) is already attached as a producer on the movie .

For the most part , the Mouse House ’s recent in - home live - action features have all been remakes or re - imaginings of their classic animated film ( seeThe Jungle Book , Beauty and the Beast , and so on ) . There have , of course , been exception to that rule ( see Ava DuVernay’sA Wrinkle in Time ) and there will be even more arriving in 2019 , when Disney releases both Kenneth Branagh’sArtemis Fowladaptation and the Dwayne Johnson - ledJungle Cruisemovie . However , even in those cases , the projects are free-base on some pre - plant IP and/or adapted from a illustrious book series . Sadé , on the other hand , is a brand - new and decent original founding .

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concord toDeadline , Sadéis based on a pitch by lesser - knowns Lindsey Reed Palmer and Ola Shokunbi , who are also onboard to write the moving-picture show for the Mouse House . The plot revolves around the titular princess , a immature African girl who uses her newfound wizard great power to protect her kingdom ( and its people ) from an vicious effect , with the assistance of the kingdom ’s prince . Famuyiwa , as was mentioned earlier , is currently set to bring forth the picture show for Disney . However , he probably wo n’t cease up direct it , given how many other projection he ’s bond to helm at the moment ( include , Netflix ’s superhero moviePast Midnightand theBlack Holecomic book adaptation ) .

As such , Sadéwill be the first African fay tale princess film issue by the studio and the 2nd project to have a dark Disney princess , after the 2009 animated musicalThe Princess and the Frog . Of course , the Mouse House did technically bring out a movie with an African princess earlier this twelvemonth - namely , Marvel Studios’Black Panther , which have Letitia Wright as the Wakandan regal daughter , Shuri . In all earnestness though , Sadéis an crucial stair in the studio ’s ongoing push to be more inclusive , with respect to both onscreen agency and behind the scene talent .

likewise , it ’s good to see the studio green - lighting more original live - military action feature of speech , to go along with the many lively - action / CGI remakes and sequels it has in the grapevine ( see : Mary Poppins Returns , Maleficent II ) . To be fair , Disney has delight a outstanding deal of commercialandcritical winner with its fairy fib retellings thus far , and will no doubt continue to do so in the future . Nevertheless , more original ideas and concept are always welcome - and a proper African Disney princess dangerous undertaking likeSadéis something that ’s long overdue from the troupe .