Following Disney’s recent decision to remove more than 60 titles, including Bryan Cranston‘ “The One And Only Ivan” from Disney+ on May 26, the actor has responded about the removal.
Deadline quotes a Disney representative as saying “The list of titles coming off of Hulu and Disney+ next week is still being finalized.” This suggests there may be more adjustments over the coming days regarding what stays and what goes on Disney+.
Cranston communicated his sense of pride in the film, reflecting on its release during the start of the COVID lockdown. He encouraged fans to watch his work and delve into the true events that served as the movie’s inspiration.
“I heard the news that my film, ‘The One And Only Ivan’ is being pulled from Disney+ as early as next week. I was very proud of this sweet, family movie that was released after the COVID Lockdown began. And I urge you to gather your kids, or nieces & nephews, make some popcorn, and watch this engaging and delightful story that was based on real events!”
“The real life guy that I play actually adopted a baby gorilla (Ivan) and raised him in a Washington state suburb. A crazy true story!! Thanks to Disney for giving us the opportunity to make this movie in the first place. I just know that it will make for really great family time – but you have to do it this weekend before it disappears forever. I promise, you’ll be glad you saw it. Have a great weekend… Bryan.”
“The One and Only Ivan”, is an unforgettable tale about the beauty of friendship, the power of visualization and the significance of the place one calls home. The film, which comes to the screen in an impressive hybrid of live-action and CGI, is based on Katherine Applegate’s book, which won numerous awards upon its publication in 2013, including the Newbery Medal.
The film features the voices of: Sam Rockwell as the gorilla Ivan; Angelina Jolie as Stella the elephant; Danny DeVito as Bob the dog; Helen Mirren as Snickers the poodle; Chaka Khan as Henrietta the chicken; Mike White as Frankie the seal; Brooklynn Prince as Ruby the baby elephant; Ron Funches as Murphy the rabbit; Phillipa Soo as Thelma the parrot; and stars Ramon Rodriguez, Ariana Greenblatt and Bryan Cranston. “The One and Only Ivan” is directed by Thea Sharrock from a screenplay by Mike White based on Applegate’s novel and is produced by the late Allison Shearmur, p.g.a., Angelina Jolie and Brigham Taylor, p.g.a. Sue Baden-Powell and Thea Sharrock serve as executive producers.
Ivan is a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant and Bob the dog. He has few memories of the jungle where he was captured, but when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, it touches something deep within him. Ruby is recently separated from her family in the wild, which causes him to question his life, where he comes from and where he ultimately wants to be.
Starting from May 26, a number of titles are set to be taken down from Disney’s streaming services worldwide. These include Disney+ shows such as Willow, Big Shot, Turner & Hooch, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Just Beyond, Diary of a Future President, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and The World According To Jeff Goldblum.
In addition, Hulu series including Y: The Last Man, Dollface, The Hot Zone, Maggie, Pistol, and Little Demon will also be removed.
By removing certain titles, Disney stands to save money, as they will no longer be obligated to pay ongoing residual payments and licensing fees. In addition, Disney may also consider removing some content to establish licensing agreements with other companies such as Netflix, HBO etc., thereby generating extra revenue.
Source: The Direct