A New African Princess is Coming to Disney
Make room for one more Disney princess. The House of Mouse has secured a new fairytale for the screen. The project is titled Sadé, according to Deadline, and stars an African princess. The idea for Sadé comes from writing team Ola Shokunbi and Lindsey Reed Palmer who collaborated Break, a romantic comedy short film, last year.
While Disney has been churning out spectacular live-action remakes of animated classics like Mulan and Lady and the Tramp, this will be an original story. Live action movie Sadé will take place in an African kingdom that is plagued by a mysterious evil. Using her “magical warrior powers,” a young girl must fight for her people. Of course, there is a prince involved, but it sounds like only girl power can end the battle.
“Magical warrior powers” sounds a lot like another African princess we finally saw on screen last year. Shuri made Marvel’s Black Panther with her crazy technological intellect and badass bravery. She also kept a sense of humor about things, even when her brother became king. We’re still holding our breath for that female-led Black Panther spin-off and would even take a standalone Shuri movie in a heartbeat. T’Challa may have been the star of that film, but Wakanda would be nothing without the unique skills Shuri has to offer.
Disney debuted their most recent Black princess in 2009 with The Princess and the Frog. While the film faced some criticism, it was a refreshing update to the damsel in distress formula of the early Disney princesses. Tiana had dreams and goals that she worked really hard for, and thank heavens, it finally paid off. She also got the prince in the end, but I was going to die if she never opened that gumbo restaurant in honor of her late dad. Anika Noni Rose lent her heavenly voice to a Randy Newman score. And, hello, Oprah was in it.
Welcome to the fold, Sadé. We cannot wait to see you work your magic, girl.
Featured Image: Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER..Shuri (Letitia Wright)..Ph: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2018
