In 2019, Disney launched its very own streaming service, Disney+. Disney+ quickly became the ultimate streamer for lovers of all things Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. While nearly every classic Disney movie can be found on Disney+ — along with memorable Disney Channel shows –, there is also tons of original content. From the beginning, Disney said that it would put a lot of effort into creating great original content. In the three years since its launch, Disney has created more than 100 original films and television shows.
Unfortunately, Disney spent a lot of money on some series that just didn’t take off. This year alone, Disney has canceled several original series, including Big Shot, Mysterious Benedict Society, National Treasure: Edge of History, and Willow. During the second-quarter earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that the company would be removing even more content from Disney+ in an attempt to save money. Iger is currently cutting $5.5 billion from Disney’s budget.
Recently, the Disney+ purge happened and dozens of films and television shows were removed from the platform. While many people would be upset about that, one person is not. That would be Willow showrunner and writer, Jon Kasdan. After it was revealed that Willow was removed from Disney+, Kasdan took to Twitter to share why he wasn’t upset.
I’ve been quiet on this news that #Willow is leaving @DisneyPlus ’cause… I’m kinda into it. I grew up at a time when @Disney movies were periodically re-released and not available to own, and it made them… more special. I worry about many things…
… but NONE of them are that #Willow will never be available again, either on @DisneyPlus or perhaps… someplace else, & ya never know where that could lead… stranger things have happened. So grateful for all the love and enthusiasm; it’s truly what keeps these worlds alive.
https://twitter.com/JonKasdan/status/1660492525965287424
In addition to removing Willow, Disney also removed the following big titles:
- Turner & Hooch
- Big Shot
- The Mysterious Benedict Society
- Cheaper by the Dozen (2022)
- The One and Only Ivan
- Harmonious! Live
- Artemis Fowl
- The Right Stuff
- The World According to Jeff Goldblum
Those were not the only titles removed. Insiders say that Disney removed the titles because the cost of keeping them on Disney+ wasn’t worth the small number of viewers they brought in. At this time, Disney has not shared if Disney+ would be experiencing another content purge sometime in the near future.
