4
Credit: DisneyAccording to new reports, an entire Disney movie was canceled.
Related: “That Is Not Normal Celebrity Behavior,” 7 Famous Guests Cause Upset at Disney Parks
A new bombshell report claims that Disney had planned on releasing a brand-new, original princess film in 2024 but ultimately shelved the movie. According to The Wrap, Disney was seemingly hesitant to try anything new following box office bombs like Strange World (2022) and Wish (2023), as well as Pixar’s Lightyear, all three of which failed to generate excitement from critics or general audiences.
Disney’s more recent releases, such as Elemental (2023) and Inside Out 2 (2024), performed exceedingly well, proving that Disney is, in fact, still capable of crafting films people want to go out and see in a theater. Moana 2 (2024) managed to join the coveted billion-dollar club, though the sequel’s release is closely tied to Disney’s canned princess film.
Reports state that Disney’s canceled unnamed princess film was set for a 2024 release, but was shelved. Disney then shifted its focus on churning out a second Moana film. This tracks, as Moana 2 was original created as a series for Disney+. The show was resorted into a feature-length film.
The shelved princess film would have focused on a new Persian princess.
Related: ‘Harry Potter’ Series: HBO Shares First Look at Actor in Costume Following Fan Backlash
While Disney has certainly struggled to take hold of pop culture with some of its original releases, Disney still knows how to craft sequels and spin offs. The company faced immense scrutiny over its live-action spin on Snow White, which starred Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. The film underperformed following its release in March and was panned by critics and audiences alike.
However, things turned around in May when Disney released its highly anticipated live-action Lilo & Stitch remake, a film that is on track to become the first billion-dollar Hollywood project of 2025.
Later this year, Disney will release another highly anticipated film, Zootopia 2. The sequel comes nearly a decade after the original, though there’s a tangible excitement hovering around it. More sequels and spin offs are on the way, like a third Frozen film as well as more live-action remakes of films like Moana. Disney is also rumored to start production on a live-action Tangled film in the near future too.
Disney has been experimenting on Disney+ in recent years too. In February, Pixar released Win or Lose, its first original animated series on the streaming app. The show focuses on a team of softball players, highlighting a specific character with each episode. The series has been met with positive reviews, though it’s unknown if special releases like Win or Lose will continue at Pixar.
What is your favorite movie of 2025 so far?