Disney+ Just Canceled Another Anticipated Sci-Fi Series
It looks like Disney+ has pulled the plug on another eagerly awaited sci-fi series, according to one of the people involved in the project.
Back in May 2023, Disney+ made some bold moves by removing several shows and movies, including some with decent budgets like Willow and The Mysterious Benedict Society. Hulu did the same later that summer. Then, in the following months, planned shows like The Spiderwick Chronicles were also scrapped before they even made it to the service.
These changes signaled the end of the ‘Peak TV’ era, where streaming services were throwing money at countless projects to attract subscribers. Now, companies like Disney are becoming much more selective about what they choose to greenlight and keep on their platforms.
Recently, Disney+ also decided to cancel Star Wars: The Acolyte and the young adult fantasy-adventure series Renegade Nell.
Another Disney+ Sci-Fi Series Gets the Axe
According to Bryce Dallas Howard, the much-anticipated Witch Mountain series on Disney+ isn’t moving forward.
Howard, who was set to lead the cast, shared the news during a panel at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto (via Agents of Fandom). She didn’t go into details about why the series was canceled, but it’s safe to assume it had something to do with Disney shifting its priorities.
Known for her roles in Jurassic World and The Mandalorian, Howard was first linked to the Witch Mountain series back in December 2022. The series was set to be written by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett, who worked on Star Trek: Picard and 12 Monkeys.
The show was supposed to be a reimagining of the 1975 movie Escape to Witch Mountain, following two orphaned siblings with psychic powers trying to escape from a millionaire who wants to exploit their abilities. Alongside Howard, the cast was set to include Isabel Gravitt, Levi Miller, Bianca Norwood, and Jackson Kelly. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard much about the project since it was first announced.
Is This the End of the Witch Mountain Franchise?
Fans looking forward to the Witch Mountain series are surely disappointed by Bryce Dallas Howard’s announcement. The project had the potential to be an interesting addition to Disney+ outside of its big Marvel and Star Wars brands, especially with the talent involved.
But as the entertainment industry tightens its belt financially, it’s not too surprising to see a title like Witch Mountain getting cut. The Witch Mountain franchise has always been a bit of an odd one for Disney. Despite spawning five films since 1975, it doesn’t often come up when people talk about Disney’s biggest hits.
Sure, this new sci-fi series could have brought the franchise back into the spotlight and given it a modern twist. But given its relatively niche appeal, it was far from a guaranteed success.
Lately, Disney—and Hollywood in general—has been focusing on sure bets and known franchises that can reliably bring in viewers. Unfortunately, Witch Mountain doesn’t quite fit that bill, especially considering the likely high budget required for such a series.
The last time we heard from the franchise was in 2009 with the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-led Race to Witch Mountain. It received mixed reviews (42% on Rotten Tomatoes) and earned a modest $106.4 million at the global box office.
Maybe in another era, the Witch Mountain series would have seen the light of day. But with the current financial climate in the entertainment industry, it makes sense why Disney decided to put this one on the shelf.
