Disney+ Shouldn't Have Cancelled These Shows

Disney+ launched in 2019 with immense promise. But behind the Star Wars and Marvel blockbusters, an alarming number of originals have been quietly cancelled.

Disney+ has one of the deepest content libraries of any streamer. With the Star Wars universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and decades of animation and family content, the platform seemed untouchable. But for original series not attached to those mega-franchises — and sometimes even for those that are — cancellation has become routine.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney+ removed roughly $1.5 billion worth of content from its platform in 2023 as part of a tax write-down strategy, including several fully produced original series. The practice of removing content for tax purposes — rather than simply not renewing it — has made Disney+ one of the most controversial platforms among television fans. Here are the Disney+ originals that should never have been cancelled.

Willow (2022)

A sequel series to the beloved 1988 fantasy film, picking up years later with a new generation of heroes. Warwick Davis returned as the titular sorcerer, and the show captured the original film's blend of adventure, humour, and heart. It was cancelled after one season — reportedly due to cost-cutting measures at Disney — despite a strong fan campaign for renewal. The show's cancellation was particularly painful because the finale set up a clear second season arc, with Elora Danan's destiny as the prophesied empress left largely unexplored. As reported by Deadline, the series was removed from Disney+ entirely in May 2023 as part of a broader content purge, making it unavailable even to existing subscribers.

The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021–2022)

A charming, intelligent adaptation of Trenton Lee Stewart's beloved book series. The show followed four gifted children recruited by the eccentric Mr. Benedict to infiltrate a mysterious institution. It was smart, warm, and beautifully produced. Cancelled after two seasons as part of Disney+'s content write-down strategy. The show earned a 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and was praised by parents and educators for its thoughtful handling of complex themes. Despite this, it was removed from Disney+ entirely in early 2023, joining the list of shows that were available one day and gone the next.

Big Shot (2021–2022)

John Stamos starred as a temperamental college basketball coach who takes a job at an all-girls private school after being fired from the NCAA. A heartfelt sports comedy with genuine emotional depth. Cancelled after two seasons despite solid reviews and a growing audience. The show was created by David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, Ally McBeal) and Brad Garrett, and it marked a rare family-friendly sports dramedy from Disney+. It too was removed from the platform in the 2023 content purge, making it one of the hardest shows for fans to revisit.

National Treasure: Edge of History (2022–2023)

An expansion of the National Treasure film franchise, following a young DREAMer on a treasure hunt across America. Despite the built-in brand recognition and a capable cast including Lisette Olivera and Harvey Keitel, it was cancelled after one season. Fans felt it never got a fair chance to find its footing. The show was part of Disney+'s broader push into family adventure series, but it fell victim to the same cost-cutting measures that claimed other live-action originals. Variety reported that the show's cancellation was part of a broader strategic shift away from mid-budget series toward franchise tentpoles.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (2021–2022)

A continuation of the beloved Mighty Ducks franchise, bringing back Emilio Estevez as Coach Bombay alongside a new generation of players. Season 2 shifted focus in a promising direction, introducing a new team of underdogs and bringing back more familiar faces from the original films. Then Disney cancelled it. Three seasons of the original films, two seasons of the sequel — still unresolved. TVLine reported that the cancellation was driven by a shift in Disney+'s content strategy toward higher-budget productions, leaving mid-range series like Game Changers without a home.

American Born Chinese (2023)

One of the most critically acclaimed shows on Disney+. Based on Gene Luen Yang's groundbreaking graphic novel, blending coming-of-age storytelling with Chinese mythology. Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu starred — three actors who would go on to win or be nominated for Academy Awards for Everything Everywhere All at Once in the same year. Despite rave reviews, it was cancelled after one season during the industry-wide content contraction. According to ScreenRant, the show's cancellation was widely criticised as a missed opportunity for authentic Asian-American representation in mainstream television, particularly given the cultural moment its cast was enjoying.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. (2021–2023)

A charming gender-swapped reboot of Doogie Howser, M.D., set in Hawaii and starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Lahela "Doogie" Kamealoha. The show earned warm reviews and was praised for its representation of Hawaiian culture and mixed-race identity. It ran for two seasons before being cancelled in 2023 as part of Disney+'s cost-cutting wave. The show's finale left Lahela's future wide open — she had just been accepted to a prestigious medical fellowship, and her personal life was at a crossroads.

Why Disney+ Cancels So Many Shows

Disney+'s cancellation strategy has been driven by two forces: the shift toward profitability mandated by Wall Street and the tax write-down strategy that allows the company to save billions by removing content from the platform entirely. Shows that might have survived on other platforms were cut to meet financial targets — not because they weren't good enough. The Hollywood Reporter reported in 2023 that Disney took a $1.5 billion impairment charge for content removed from Disney+ and Hulu, a financial move that effectively valued these shows more dead than alive. Unlike other platforms that at least leave cancelled shows available for existing subscribers, Disney+'s strategy makes these shows disappear entirely — a uniquely consumer-hostile practice in the streaming wars.

Browse our fan-written endings for shows that left too soon — from any platform.