Disney fans furious after 40 TV shows and movies removed from Disney Plus and Hulu: ‘My villain origin story’
In an effort to cut costs, Disney is removing content from Disney Plus and Hulu streaming platforms.
The announcement that at least 40 titles are being pulled as early as next week has angered fans and subscribers.
Among the shows to be culled are the fantasy series Willow (a sequel to the 1988 film of the same name), Kat Dennings’ comedy series Dollface, and The Mysterious Benedict Society.
A Disney representative confirmed to Variety that at least four dozen titles will no longer be able to stream across Disney Plus and Hulu. (See below for a full list of confirmed series and movies to go.)
“What?!?!?! I haven’t even had a chance to watch Willow yet! Is there going to be a physical release or anything? This is wild and confusing for multiple reasons,” said one person.
Another added: “Can they do that? I mean, I know they are not successful shows or anything but those are Disney Plus originals. That’s wild.”
“Disney is basically destroying any legal way to watch Willow and Dollface… My villain origin story is realised,” said a third person.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Disney Plus lost four million subscribers in the first three months of 2023, continuing a decline for the platform, which lost 2.4 million in the last quarter of 2022.
can they do that? i mean, i know they are not successful shows or anything but those are disney+ originals. that's wild.
— matt 🕰 (@folkswiftrep) May 18, 2023
Anyone debating the quality of these shows (and willow is great, idc) is entirely missing the point. All of these are pieces of art which both creators and fans have serious personal investment in, not corporate products to be tossed aside depending on how much money they make.
— Conor Brannigan🌹 (@Conchobar2003) May 19, 2023
During Disney’s earnings call with analysts, chief financial officer Christine McCarthy announced that Disney will be “removing certain content from our streaming platforms”.
McCarthy told investors that the company expects a writedown of $1.5bn (£1.2bn) to $1.8bn (£1.4bn) as a result of removing the content.
She said that “going forward we intend to produce lower volumes of content in alignment with this strategic shift”.
What?!?!?! I haven’t even had a chance to watch Willow yet! Is there going to be a physical release or anything? This is wild and confusing for multiple reasons.
— Cam (@cambahan) May 18, 2023
these are literally their originals and they're wonderful. I hate this.
— Laura 🍋🌷 (@noicingcupcake) May 18, 2023
Fans, however, were shocked to learn that the culling of titles from the platform was occurring so soon.
Disney Plus is home to a number of hugely popular shows, such as Marvel’s WandaVision, the Star Wars spin-off series The Mandalorian, and the critically acclaimed drama Dopesick, which explores America’s opioid crisis.
See below for a list of all the titles that have so far been confirmed to be removed:
America the Beautiful
Among the Stars
Be Our Chef
Best in Dough
Best in Snow
Better Nate Than Ever
The Big Fib
Big Shot
Black Beauty
Cheaper by the Dozen (2022)
Clouds
Darby and the Dead
Diary of a Future President
Disney Fairy Tale Weddings
Dollface
Earth to Ned
Encore!
Everything’s Trash
Foodtastic
Harmonious Live!
Howard
It’s a Dog’s Life With Bill Farmer
Just Beyond
Little Demon
Love in the Time of Corona
Maggie
Magic Camp
The Making of Willow
The Mighty Ducks
Marvel’s Hero Project
Marvel’s MPower
More Than Robots
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The One and Only Ivan
Own the Room
Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays
Pick of the Litter
Pistol
The Premise
The Princess
The Quest
The Real Right Stuff
Rogue Trip
Rosaline
Shop Class
A Spark Story
Stargirl (2020)
Stuntman
Super/Natural
Timmy Failure
Turner & Hooch
Weird but True!
Willow
Wolfgang
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
Y: The Last Man