The Disney content purge: Which shows have disappeared?

The purge has commenced. In spring, Disney's stock was down so the company started to remove dozens of TV shows from its streaming platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Content creators were shocked to see their shows vanish without a trace.

Nearly 80 shows were pulled from the platforms, according to IndieWire. These range from movies to documentaries, children’s shows, and reality series. Here are some of the most notable ones...

Image: 'Willow,' Disney

John Bickerstaff, the writer of 'Willow,' was infuriated by Disney’s move, especially because the highly anticipated remake of 'Willow' wasn’t even on the platform for six months. “This business has become absolutely cruel,” he tweeted.

Image: 'Willow,' "Disney"

Months after 'Willow' was removed, its star Warwick Davis was still furious. "I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the DisneyPlus Series was made. Please tell me WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing," he tweeted.

Since they don’t exist as DVDs or tapes, you may be out of luck if you wanted to watch or re-watch them, at least for now. When HBO removed a lot of content last year, some shows eventually reappeared on other platforms. Ah, the good old days of being able to record your favorite shows on VCRs.

This mystery adventure, based on children’s books, was cancelled after two seasons in January 2023 despite significant star power. It featured Tony Hale from 'Arrested Development' and the comedic Kristen Schaal.

This Disney documentary followed Jeff Goldblum around the world for two seasons as he explored topics like video games, ice cream, and sneakers. Despite an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, that wasn't enough to save it.

This Hulu show starring Kat Dennings, known for '2 Broke Girls,' followed a young woman dealing with a breakup and attempting to rekindle her female friendships. Sound interesting? Too bad.

What's the motivation behind this purge? It isn't political or moral - it's purely financial. A Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing reported by Variety revealed that Disney will record a $1.5 billion impairment charge, which translate to tax write-offs, for axing the shows. This move will also reportedly spare Disney from paying the show owners.

Image:'Scrooge McDuck and Money' (Walt Disney, 1967)

This remake of the 2003 hit, starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff, premiered on the platform on March 18, 2022. Although the original Steve Martin film was well-loved, the reboot received mixed reviews.

This sci-fi adventure film directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh and starring Colin Farrell and Judi Dench also got the cut. It was originally slated for a theater release in 2019, but had to debuted on streaming due to the pandemic. It followed the adventures of Artemis Fowl II, a twelve-year-old Irish prodigy who teams up with his loyal servant, a dwarf, and a fairy to rescue his father.

Image: 'Artemis Fowl,' Disney

Inspired by the true story of Ivan the gorilla, this film was highly esteemed and even nominated for Academy Awards for its visual effects. Produced by and starring Angelina Jolie, it also featured the voices of Danny DeVito and Helen Mirren, with Bryan Cranston in a human role.

Some suggest that Disney's purge is a method to dodge paying content creators. "Before you say tax write-off: these shows have already been released and so can't be a write-off. And in the case of 'Willow,' they own the property outright. The only conclusion is that this is to avoid paying residuals. During a strike," tweeted John Bickerstaff, writer of one of the cancelled shows said, refering to the now-finished writers' strike.

This post-apocalyptic science fiction show, starring Diane Lane and based on the award-winning comic series, explored what would happen if all mammals with a Y chromosome died, with the exception of one young artist and his monkey. It received generally positive reviews from critics but was cancelled in October 2021 after one season.

Image: Y: The Last Man, FX on Hulu

Continuing where the 1989 buddy-cop film featuring a dog left off, this series premiered in 2021 but was cancelled after one season. Reviews for it weren't bad, but evidently, it wasn't worth it for Disney to keep on the platform.

Another sequel to a classic children’s film, this series, starring Lauren Graham, received even better reviews than the original. However, the show was cancelled in February 2023 and swiftly removed.

This Emmy-award winning children's educational show 'Weird but True!' explained science in a fun way. It started on National Geographic but migrated to Disney and now it's deleted.

This show explored the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife of the United States. Users praised its unbelievable camera work, but if you want to see for yourself, you're out of luck! For now, at least.

This show centered on a 13-year-old Cuban American girl making her way through the pressures of adolescence. Inspirational, it also flashforwards to her being the future president of the United States. It got a 100% approval on Rotten Tomatos and was praised as a rare Latinex show.

Other shows, films and documentaries that have fallen victim to the purge include: 'Among the Stars,' 'Better Nate Than Ever,' 'The Big Shot,''It’s a Dog’s Life With Bill Farmer,' 'Magic Camp,' 'The Princess,' 'Just Beyond,' and 'Love in the Time of Corona.'

Image: Weird But True | Disney+ Trailer

According to Variety, the purge isn't over. In the SEC filing, Disney stated it "is continuing its review, and currently anticipates additional produced content will be removed from its DTC and other platforms," and may dispose of another $400 million worth of content.