If there’s any content creator known for mercilessly pulling their most beloved shows, then it’s the streaming giant Netflix. However, it seems that the culling fever has been caught by a number of other media companies, including Disney, which is shortly set to remove a slew of shows from its streaming service. However, fans of a number of these shows aren’t going down without a fight, and this is most true of the underrated fantasy show Willow.
Recommended VideosNow, some fans have started a petition to stop Disney from removing the series from the streaming service. Although only a few thousand have signed so far, it seems the petition makers are hopeful that once they hit 5,000 signatures, they’ll be able to get Disney’s attention. The person who started this petition, Aubrey Smalls, has this to say on the Change.org page:
“On May 26, Disney+ will be removing the only series on its service featuring a character with dwarfism. Today, we are urging Disney to re-evaluate this decision in support of creatives with disabilities. Please sign this petition if you support Disney+ keeping the Willow series on their service.”
Willow is a sequel to the 1988 film of the same name, and stars Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn sorcerer who leads a small party in an attempt to rescue a kidnapped royal. Davis played the role in the original movie too.
I've been quiet on this news that #Willow is leaving @DisneyPlus 'cause… I'm kinda into it. I grew up at a time when @Disney movies were periodically re-released and not available to own, and it made them… more special. I worry about many things…
— Jon Kasdan (@JonKasdan) May 22, 2023Although it is always a bit confusing trying to figure out how and why executives decide to cut certain shows, with Willow it’s particularly infuriating. The series did well in terms of viewing figures, and has had a great critical reception, earning praise for its set dressing, acting performances, and engaging storylines.
Aside from the petition, there’s been plenty of other social media activity in support of the show. There’s also a very popular hashtag on TikTok begging Disney to save the series. Advocates not only want to see it preserved because they’re fans of the world, but also because of the fact it’s one of the few shows on a streaming network that stars a performer with dwarfism, and that it also has plenty of other great cast members who represent facets on various communities that are often underrepresented in media.
Reasons why removing Willow from Disney is a bad idea:
Is the literal erasure of LGBTQIA+ representation, mainly Lesbian representation, you can count in your hands how many fantasy shows or movies exist with lesbians main characters, and this passes a very bad message to pic.twitter.com/4VFoUCdmzx
For now, though, it seems that Disney is set to follow through with its plans to axe the series and remove it from their platform, even though it’s only been on there for less than a year. Whether or not the fans can make a difference depends on all manner of things, but if the past is anything to go by, it seems Willow is in jeopardy of disappearing for good.
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