At launch, several Disney+ originals gained immense popularity, including The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and The Imagineering Story.
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Since then, Disney has produced a variety of films and series that have captured viewers' hearts. Programs like WandaVision, Loki, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Santa Clauses, and Goosebumps continue to grow in popularity each year.
When Disney+ debuted in November 2019, it was initially available only in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. A week later, it expanded to Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico.
Today, Disney+ is accessible in over 60 countries, including regions in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Related: Petition Grows to Stop Disney Show About Pregnant Teen Who Falls for the Devil
About four months after its U.S. launch, Disney+ became available in Italy, and many countries have their own original programming. For instance, Disney+ Germany gained attention for an original series featuring a teenage girl named Pauline, who falls in love with the devil and becomes pregnant with his child.
Disney's anticipated series, Avetrana – This Is Not Hollywood, is a fictionalized account of the tragic 2010 murder of a young girl and the ensuing media scrutiny surrounding this case in the small Italian town of Avetrana.
It was supposed to premiere on Disney+ in Italy on October 25, but a lawsuit filed by the mayor of Avetrana put that on hold.
Avetrana Mayor Antonio Iazzi expressed concerns that the series portrays his town in a negative light, arguing that its title suggests a connection between the community and crime. The mayor’s complaints were fueled by a desire to protect the image of Avetrana, which has a population of fewer than 7,000 residents. He emphasized that the municipality does not want to be associated with the infamous case, pushing for legal action to seek changes.
In response to the mayor's discontent, legal proceedings commenced, with a local court taking up Iazzi’s appeal. The court ultimately ruled in favor of the mayor, leading to a halt in the series' launch scheduled for October 25.
In the wake of the court's decision, Disney had signaled intentions to contest the ruling. The company, along with producers Groenlandia, stated they believed in the right to share stories that reflect complex social issues, including crime and public reaction.
However, on October 29, Disney announced that it would change the series' name to This Is Not Hollywood to circumvent ongoing judicial obstacles. This choice reflects the global entertainment giant's attempt to avoid further legal entanglements while continuing to offer the content to audiences. The renamed series is now scheduled for release on Disney+ on October 30.
TV crime series whose release was suspended last week by an Italian court will change its name to overcome judicial obstacles, the global entertainment giant said on Tuesday.
“Avetrana – This is not Hollywood”, a fictionalised account of the 2010 murder of a 15-year-old girl by her family members and of the media frenzy that surrounded the case, will instead be called “This is not Hollywood”, a statement said.
The decision to alter the title stirred mixed reactions within the industry. While some supported Disney’s new direction as a pragmatic solution, others criticized the court ruling as an infringement on artistic freedom. Industry representatives, including the president of the Italian Producers' Association, voiced concerns that such decisions could set an alarming precedent for creators aiming to produce culturally relevant and historically grounded content.
Do you think Disney should have felt pressured into changing the name of the show? Should the company have kept the original title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
