Disney+ launched as a streaming juggernaut, but not every original was 'The Mandalorian.' Behind the hits were costly misfires that offered a crash course in what subscribers actually wanted. Here’s what those early stumbles looked like.
The Franchise-Starter That Never Started
On paper, 'Artemis
Fowl' looked like a surefire hit. Based on a beloved young adult book series, developed for years, and helmed by respected director Kenneth Branagh, it was positioned as a potential theatrical blockbuster. With a reported budget of $125 million, it was meant to be Disney's next big fantasy franchise. But its earliest days were plagued with delays, shifting from a 2019 theatrical release to a summer 2020 slot. Then, the global shutdown of theaters forced Disney's hand, and 'Artemis Fowl' became one of the first major films to skip theaters and debut exclusively on Disney+. Rather than a premiere, it felt like a dump. The reception was disastrous. Critics and fans of the books panned the film for being an incoherent mess that fundamentally misunderstood the source material's anti-hero protagonist. Reports noted it felt butchered in the edit, with major plot points explained via clumsy narration and characters appearing without introduction. Instead of kicking off a multi-film saga, 'Artemis Fowl' became an early, expensive lesson for Disney: a big budget and a known book title mean nothing if the execution fails to connect.
The Prestige Play That Misfired
Not every swing on Disney+ was aimed at the family fantasy audience. 'The Right Stuff,' produced by National Geographic and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way, was a high-minded prestige drama. Based on Tom Wolfe's iconic book about the Mercury 7 astronauts, the series was a sprawling, historically rich production designed to bring a different kind of viewer to the service. It had the pedigree and the cinematic scope, chronicling the dawn of the U.S. space program. However, the show premiered in the fall of 2020 and landed with a quiet thud. Despite its impressive production values, it simply failed to generate the cultural buzz necessary to justify its expense on a platform dominated by Star Wars and Marvel. By April 2021, Disney+ officially canceled it, making it the service's first-ever scripted series cancellation. The studio behind the show, Warner Bros. Television, even tried shopping it to other networks, but a new home was never found. The failure of 'The Right Stuff' was a clear indicator that, in its early days, the Disney+ audience wasn't showing up for serious, adult-oriented period dramas, no matter how well-made they were.
The Nostalgia Revival That Soured
Reviving a beloved 80s property seems like a classic Disney move, and 'Willow' had all the makings of a legacy-sequel success. The original 1988 film was a cult classic, and bringing back Warwick Davis in his iconic role after more than 30 years generated significant fan excitement. Lucasfilm poured a massive budget into the series, reportedly over $100 million, hoping to recapture the magic for a new generation. The show premiered in late 2022 to a mixed reception. While some praised its visuals, many fans of the original movie were put off by its modern teen dialogue and use of contemporary pop songs, which felt jarring in a high-fantasy setting. Ultimately, the show failed to generate the viewership and buzz needed to justify its enormous cost, and it was canceled after a single season. The story took an even bleaker turn when, just a few months later, Disney removed 'Willow' from the streaming service entirely as part of a broader cost-cutting content purge. It was a brutal end for a nostalgia play that taught the company a harsh lesson: not every piece of legacy IP has the power to launch a modern blockbuster series.
The Mid-Tier IP That Faded Away
Some failures aren't loud explosions; they're quiet fizzles. The 'Turner & Hooch' series, a legacy sequel to the 1989 Tom Hanks film, falls into this category. Premiering in the summer of 2021, the show starred Josh Peck as the son of Hanks' original character, inheriting a similarly slobbery and unruly dog. The concept was quintessential Disney: leverage a recognizable, family-friendly property for a safe, comfortable series. Unlike 'Artemis Fowl,' it wasn't a massive budget gamble, and unlike 'The Right Stuff,' it was squarely onbrand. But it committed a different streaming sin: it was forgettable. The series received mixed reviews and, crucially, generated almost no online conversation or buzz. Viewership numbers are unknown, but by December 2021, cast members confirmed the show would not be returning for a second season. It became another example, alongside shows like 'The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' and 'Big Shot,' of Disney's struggle to make nonstMarvel or Star Wars content a mustwatch event. These shows weren't hated, but they weren't loved enough to survive in the ruthless streaming economy, and many, including 'Turner & Hooch,' were later removed from the platform altogether.
