As part of its ongoing cost-cutting strategy, Disney removed Diary of a Future President from Disney+ worldwide as of May 27.
“Diary of a Future President” first debuted on Disney+ in January 2020 and the entire second season premiered on Aug. 18, 2021. Back in December 2021, it was announced that “Diary of a Future President” had been canceled after two seasons at Disney+.
The series tells the origin story of Cuban American and future leader Elena Cañero-Reed as she enters the seventh grade and recounted through excerpts from 13-year-old Elena’s diary, this coming-of-age series follows Elena through the ups and downs of middle school which sets her on the path to becoming the President of the United States.
Why Was ‘Diary of a Future President’ Removed From Disney Plus?
Disney decided to remove ‘Diary of a Future President’ from Disney+ because of its low viewership. The company didn’t see the cost of maintaining the show as justified, particularly while it’s aiming to save $5 billion through cost-cutting measures.
Disney still bears ongoing costs to keep shows like ‘Diary of a Future President’ on Disney+. By eliminating certain titles, Disney can save money, as it no longer needs to make residual payments and pay licensing fees.
Additionally, removing content also opens up opportunities for Disney to establish licensing agreements for these shows with other companies, like Netflix or HBO, which could generate additional revenue.
Will ‘Diary of a Future President’ Come Back To Disney Plus?
Due to a content impairment charge that Disney has implemented, which serves as a write-off for tax purposes, Diary of a Future President is unable to return to Disney+.
Once the impairment period ends, Disney technically has the option to reintroduce Diary of a Future President to Disney+. However, given that Disney has deemed the ongoing costs of maintaining the title on Disney+ as not worthwhile, the possibility of such a return is extremely low.
Where To Watch Diary of a Future President
Currently, there are no alternative streaming platforms or purchase options available for Diary of a Future President.
Disney’s decision to remove content parallels a preceding action by Warner Bros. Discovery, headed by David Zaslav, which also pulled a selection of titles from HBO Max. The company subsequently granted Roku and Tubi the rights to many of these shows through a number of licensing agreements, thereby further monetizing programming that had previously failed to achieve expected success.
It’s unclear whether Disney will license the show to another streaming service, as that would depend on the interest of other platforms. However, it’s certainly a possibility that Disney will follow a similar path to Warner.
Similarly, there’s uncertainty about if or when Disney might offer Diary of a Future President for digital purchase.
If and when Diary of a Future President is made available on another streaming service or available to purchase, we’ll be sure to update this article.
What Other Titles Have Been Removed From Disney Plus?
Disney has pulled over 100 titles in total from Disney+ shows such as Willow, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Turner & Hooch, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Just Beyond, Diary of a Future President, Big Shot, and The World According To Jeff Goldblum, and many more.
You can see the full list of removals right here.
Diary of a Future President is such a phenomenal show, which tells important stories in a relatable way, with sensitivity and humor. The show is so incredibly-well written, that each time I’ve rewatched it I’ve found new comedy gold that is just so rare. It is truly heart wrenching that this gem of a show can not be enjoyed by anyone, anymore.
The show is really relatable and humorous, and it’s sad that Disney removed it.