Oprah Winfrey hops aboard Disney's "Frog"

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Oprah Winfrey has joined the voice cast of the upcoming Disney animated film "The Princess and the Frog."

At a Disney presentation in Hollywood on Wednesday, John Lasseter, the chief creative office at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, said that Winfrey will play the character of Eudora, the mother of the main character, Princess Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose.

The film, set for release in late 2009, is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Winfrey has lent her vocal talents to several animated and fantasy films. Most recently, she played Judge Bumbleton in "Bee Movie," and she also provided dialogue for Gussy the Goose in the live-action "Charlotte's Web."

Randy Newman has written six new songs for "The Princess and the Frog," it was also announced. Newman appeared in person at the studio's presentation to perform one of the tunes, "Down in New Orleans."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter