Credit: DisneyDisney has never been a company that likes to admit defeat.
Even when a project quietly disappears, the studio usually avoids using the word “canceled.” Plans get “restructured.” Timelines get “adjusted.” Priorities “shift.”
But lately, something feels different.
After months of nonstop criticism and disappointment from longtime fans, Disney suddenly seems like it’s rethinking some of its biggest promises. And now, multiple projects that once sounded like guaranteed wins are starting to look like they could be on the chopping block.
Not because Disney doesn’t have the money.
But because the backlash has gotten loud enough that even Disney can’t ignore it.
Disney Has Been Taking Hits From Every Direction
It’s hard to ignore the fact that Disney has been stuck in a rough stretch.
The parks keep getting more expensive, and fans complain constantly that the “magic” is being priced out. Between rising ticket costs, higher hotel prices, and add-ons that make vacations feel stressful, Disney trips don’t feel as accessible as they once did.
At the same time, Disney’s movie division has faced harsh reactions. Several releases have underperformed, and online audiences have become much quicker to criticize Disney projects before they even hit theaters.
Whether it’s superhero fatigue, remake burnout, or franchise overload, Disney isn’t automatically getting the hype it used to.
Some Projects May Be Getting Scrapped Before They Get Worse
For years, Disney operated with a simple strategy: announce big projects early and trust that fans would stay excited.
But that strategy doesn’t work when hype turns into frustration.
Now, after multiple delays and public failures, Disney appears to be hitting the brakes on projects that feel risky, overly complicated, or no longer worth the investment. Some may already be dead behind the scenes, while others are stuck in limbo.
Either way, Disney’s once-massive slate suddenly looks a lot smaller.
The Marvel Movie That Turned Into a Running Joke
One of Disney’s most infamous announcements came in 2019, when Marvel revealed a new project at San Diego Comic-Con starring Mahershala Ali.
It sounded like a guaranteed hit. Ali is one of the most respected actors in Hollywood, and the character already had a loyal fanbase thanks to Wesley Snipes’ earlier films.
But instead of becoming Marvel’s next major era, the movie became known for chaos. It reportedly cycled through multiple writers and directors and faced constant behind-the-scenes issues. Delays stacked up, and eventually, the film disappeared from Disney’s release calendar.
That’s usually a significant warning sign.
Now, many fans believe the solo film may never happen, even if Ali’s version of the character could still show up later in a team-up project.
A Live-Action Remake That Quietly Disappeared
Disney has built its modern movie strategy around live-action remakes, but not every one of them survives development.
A live-action version of The Sword in the Stone (1963) has been floating around for years. The project was once tied to director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, known for 28 Weeks Later (2007), and was once expected to become a Disney+ release.
But after years of silence, Fresnadillo confirmed in 2024 that the project had been quietly scrapped.
No major announcement. No dramatic goodbye. It just vanished.
A Theme Park Movie That Still Hasn’t Moved
Disney has tried to turn theme park attractions into movie franchises, and sometimes it works.
But other times, it becomes a never-ending development loop.
That seems to be the case with the long-rumored Space Mountain film. The project has been discussed for years, with different writers and producers attached along the way. As of 2024, writers Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec were reportedly connected to the script.
Still, there’s no casting news, no production timeline, and no sign that Disney is close to making this movie real.
At this point, it’s hard not to wonder if the studio is simply waiting for the right moment to walk away.
A Remake That Lost Its Momentum
Disney’s remake slate also included a live-action version of The Aristocats (1970), with Questlove attached as director.
That alone made the project feel different from Disney’s usual formula, and it piqued fans’ curiosity.
But in 2025, Questlove confirmed the movie was dead, citing leadership changes and shifting priorities at the studio.
For Disney fans, it was another reminder that just because a project gets announced doesn’t mean it will ever happen.
A Secretive Disneyland Idea That May Be Too Niche
One of Disney’s more unusual ideas was a film based on Club 33, the famously exclusive private lounge at Disneyland.
In 2024, reports claimed writer Darren Lemke was attached, but Disney later brought in Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, the writers of Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), to rewrite the script.
That rewrite doesn’t guarantee cancellation, but it does suggest uncertainty. And when a concept already feels niche, a lack of confidence can quickly lead to shelving.
A Huge Star Still Can’t Crack the Story
Then there’s the Tower of Terror movie, which was announced in 2021 with Scarlett Johansson attached to star and produce.
It sounded like a slam dunk. The ride is iconic, and Johansson is one of Hollywood’s biggest names.
But years later, it’s still stuck in development. Johansson has even admitted the project has been challenging to figure out, calling it a “blue sky” concept that still needs the right story.
So this one isn’t officially dead.
But it also isn’t moving, and fans are starting to assume it may never escape limbo.
Disney’s Biggest Issue Is That Fans Aren’t Automatically Excited Anymore
A few years ago, Disney could announce almost anything, and fans would cheer.
Now, every announcement gets questioned. Every delay becomes a joke. And every project is judged by Disney’s recent failures rather than its past success.
Disney can still revive some of these ideas if it wants. But right now, it looks like the studio is being forced to accept something it hasn’t had to face in a long time:
Fans aren’t automatically buying what Disney is selling anymore.