Film and television producers were dissatisfied with this Disney for removing their shows from Disney+ and Hulu.
Film and television producers were dissatisfied with this Disney for removing their shows from Disney+ and Hulu.
in May 2023, meeting announced that Disney would be removing a large number of movies and TV shows from its streaming services. This move was done as a cost-cutting move to increase Disney+ and Hulu’s profitability. The removed films and series included the Disney+ originals Willow, Turner & Hooch, The Mysterious Benedict Society and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. With Hulu, Y: The Last Man, Dollface, The Hot Zone, Maggie, Pistol, and Little Demon were all removed.
Eliza Skinner — creator of the Disney+ series Earth to Ned — wasn’t aware her show was going to be pulled from the streaming service until she received a text message in a writers group chat. Because the show was a streaming variety series, the writers received no residuals; Skinner will not be able to use this as a business card project for future films and shows.
“It’s part of that general mindset about the value of art and creativity that you’re like, ‘Wow, you’ve been putting all your time into this, you at least deserve a phone call,'” says Skinner The Hollywood Reporter. “You deserve at least a little understanding of what’s happening with your work. But there is a whole climate of devaluation.”
“I’d definitely be curious to learn more about what influenced the decision,” says filmmaker Ashley Avis. Her 2020 film Black Beauty was removed as part of the Disney+ purge. “As an artist, it’s difficult to know where to go.”
Like Skinner, Phoebe Robinson — star and creator of comedy series Everything’s Trash — was not notified when her Freeform series was canceled on Hulu.
“It’s pretty odd that at a time when TV shows are becoming more inclusive at a somewhat icy pace, both in front of and behind the scenes, there’s suddenly no money left,” she says. “We’re out here, working hard to develop our skills, got into the room – and now there are no more coins?”
