Movies

Disney+ Casts Aside 10 Major Shows: What Went Wrong?

BBG News

Ever since its debut in 2019, Disney+ has experienced a few bumps in the road, with the cancellation of around ten significant shows before they even got a chance to premiere. Despite numerous successful projects that are being developed and will eventually be available on the platform (with many slated for release in 2025), there have been other titles that didn’t quite make it to the finish line due to various reasons.

These shows have faced cancellation at different stages during their production process. This could happen at any time, from deep into filming (getting bought by a different streaming platform) to just after an announcement (with the series details being the only information available for fans).

Disney+ has decided to discontinue 10 significant series, spanning from highly anticipated literary adaptations to the latest installments in beloved franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel.

10 Shows Disney+ Abandoned in Development

The Spiderwick Chronicles

According to a well-known plan, the television series adaptation of the enchanting children’s fantasy book series titled “The Spiderwick Chronicles” was supposed to be Disney+’s next major literary adaptation. Regrettably, the show didn’t materialize (at least not in the form that had initially been envisioned).

The Spiderwick series made it to the filming stage under Disney’s label, with production happening in Vancouver from September 2022 to January 2023. However, several months after production wrapped up, it was disclosed that the series would not proceed on Disney+ due to cost-saving measures.

In October of 2023, it became public knowledge that The Spiderwick Chronicles had been acquired by the Roku Channel. This news was later confirmed by Deadline. Eventually, in April 2024, the series made its premiere on the platform with all eight episodes being made available simultaneously.

Nautilus

Initially revealed in August 2021, the project titled “Nautilus” was planned as a modern retelling on Disney+ of Jules Verne’s famous novel, “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” which Disney had previously adapted for film in 1954. This new version would have delved into the backstory of Captain Nemo, the franchise’s renowned character, and how he eventually commandeered the submarine ship that gives the series its name.

The production and filming of the series were initially planned for release on Disney’s streaming platform; however, this plan did not materialize. Similar to “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” “Nautius” was abandoned by Disney during production, and its streaming rights were subsequently auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Initially, it was announced that the streaming platform Amazon Prime Video would air the show in the UK and Ireland starting from October 2024, as reported by Deadline. Meanwhile, AMC secured the rights for North America, and it’s anticipated that the show will debut on AMC+ in the U.S. and Canada on June 29, 2024, on a Sunday.

Lizzie McGuire Reboot

One of the much-anticipated Disney+ shows that recently debuted was a reboot of the popular series Lizzie McGuire, starring Hilary Duff. This new streaming show aimed to continue the storyline from the beloved Disney Channel series, catching up with its vibrant characters many years after the original show’s conclusion.

In a fresh twist, the revival of “Lizzie McGuire” was intended to offer a more adult perspective on its characters and setting, mirroring the growth of its initial viewers. However, the production process came to a halt before it could fully materialize.

Initially, the eagerly anticipated reboot aired two episodes prior to Terri Minsky’s departure from the production due to creative disagreements. The series was subsequently paused in January 2020, with rumors spreading that it lacked sufficient family-friendly content for Disney+ (as reported by Deadline). Eventually, the show was officially cancelled in December of the same year.

Rangers of the New Republic

Despite some cancellations in the theatrical realm for the Star Wars franchise (learn more about its film difficulties here), its television projects have generally been unaffected, with one notable exception: Rangers of the New Republic.

It was announced right before the second season of “The Mandalorian” that a spin-off series was planned, focusing on the galaxy-wide storyline revolving around Gina Carano’s character, Cara Dune, who serves as a marshal in the New Republic.

In early 2021, Gina Carano faced backlash due to her contentious online comments. As a result, Lucasfilm terminated her contract, leading to the cancellation of “Rangers of the New Republic”. It was reported by Star Wars News Net that no scripts for the series were ever written, and any storylines planned were later incorporated into later seasons of “The Mandalorian”.

Black Panther Spin-off Series

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther universe is poised for a significant debut on Disney+ with the arrival of the animated series Eyes of Wakanda. But it turns out, this wasn’t the only streaming venture centered around the fictitious African nation that Disney had in store.

By May 2021, news emerged about an upcoming Disney+ series focusing on the backstory of Okoye, portrayed by Danai Gurira, for which Ryan Coogler was set to be involved in its creation.

As a devoted Marvel fan, I’ve been eagerly waiting for updates on the rumored series featuring Okoye, but alas, it seems like we might have to hold our excitement in check for now. In an interview with Pay or Wait in February 2025, Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ head of streaming, television, and animation, hinted that while fans of the formidable warrior can look forward to her return, it won’t be on a TV show.

Tiana Disney+ Series

Originally intended to continue the tale from 2009’s “The Princess and the Frog,” the upcoming Disney+ series, titled “Tiana,” aimed to explore further the world of this cherished Disney animated film. The story would follow Anika Noni Rose’s character, Tiana, embarking on a new journey as she assumed the role of the newly crowned princess in Maldonia.

Initially, the announcement for this series took place back in December 2020, and Disney had set a target of 2023 for its release. However, before the show eventually got canceled, the only significant update fans received was in October 2023, when it was disclosed that Joyce Sherri, known for her work on “Midnight Mass,” would be taking charge as the showrunner.

After that point, there was a period of silence, but it wasn’t until March 2025 that The Hollywood Reporter verified that the project titled Tiana had been canceled. Due to cost overruns, Walt Disney Animation Studios decided to discontinue producing long-form animated content.

Tron Disney+ Series

Few details have been revealed about the enigmatic Tron Disney+ venture, other than it’s one of several productions that didn’t make it past the editing phase at the prestigious Hollywood production house.

As a cinephile, I’ve always been captivated by the electrifying world of TRON, a series that once again found itself in the spotlight, nestled within the digital realm. Before Disney+ even graced our screens, it was rumored that this streaming giant had plans to breathe new life into some of their classic titles, such as the Mighty Ducks, National Treasure, and Willow – with TRON being one of them.

As a follower, I must share that, following the launch of the streaming platform, it appears the Tron series was unfortunately put on hold due to some unseen developments behind the scenes. However, the good news is, we’re all set to revisit The Grid later this year with the upcoming movie titled Tron: Ares.

Race to Witch Mountain

Disney has made multiple attempts throughout the years to rejuvenate the old “Escape to Witch Mountain” series, and the most recent example is the now-abandoned “Race to Witch Mountain.

The Disney+ series is said to have been in development since 2019. It was planned to feature Bryce Dallas Howard, known for her role in “Jurassic World,” as one of the main adult characters. The story follows two teenagers who discover they possess superpowers and are compelled to flee after being forced into hiding.

In August 2024, Howard announced that the show had been canceled from Disney+ without providing a reason. It’s likely that the cancellation was due to Disney refining their streaming strategy and focusing on shows with proven success.

The Muppets

2019 saw Disney+ introduce another project under its belt, which unfortunately didn’t make it off the ground – a revival of the beloved series “The Muppets,” originally titled “Muppets Live Another Day.” The development of this new streaming series was being led by Josh Gad, known for his role in Frozen, along with writers Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis.

The sequence of events was planned to unfold post-the adventure depicted in “The Muppets Take Manhattan”. In this story, Kermit the Frog got back together with the Muppets after the enigmatic vanishing of Rowlf the Dog.

The Disney+ series titled “Muppets Live Another Day” was one of the first productions to be canceled, having been axed in September 2019 (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter). This decision came about due to creative disagreements within the writing team and shifting management at the Muppets Studio.

Book of Enchantment

Although not formally declared anywhere, the “Book of Enchantment” has sparked intrigue among dedicated Disney enthusiasts. It’s been rumored that an animated streaming series based on it was being developed as early as February 2019.

The plan was to re-imagine the “Villains” book series by Serena Valentino, delving into the backstories of some of Disney’s famous villainous bands, explaining their transformations into the malevolent characters we encounter in their respective films.

The production on the series halted in August 2019 following nearly a year of work, because it was perceived as overly grim for Disney. Despite efforts to lighten the mood during filming, the project failed to meet Disney’s expected level of quality. (According to Deadline)

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2025-07-04 11:05

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