Bryan Cranston's Heartbreaking Reaction to Disney+ Removing The One and Only Ivan

Bryan Cranston was deeply moved upon learning that his movie, The One and Only Ivan, would be taken down from Disney+'s content library. The movie was among a list of original TV shows and films that Disney announced will be removed from Disney+ and Hulu by May 26. The One and Only Ivan premiered in April 2020 and is based on the novel of the same name by Katherine Applegate, which tells the story of Ivan the gorilla (Sam Rockwell) and his journey towards freedom after being adopted as an infant by circus ringmaster Mack (Cranston).

Taking to Instagram, Cranston shared his emotional response to The One and Only Ivan's removal from Disney+. The actor expressed how much the project meant to him and how proud he was to have brought it to audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cranston ended his statement by encouraging everyone to watch the movie with their families before it vanishes from the streaming platform.

Why Is Disney+ Removing So Many Films And TV Shows?

As part of its cost-cutting strategy, Disney+ has recently announced plans to remove content from its platform, including original movies and TV shows like The One and Only Ivan, Big Shot, and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. Unfortunately, these titles were exclusive to Disney+, which means they won't be available anywhere else after they're removed. While some of these projects may eventually be made into DVDs or picked up by other streamers, others may never be seen again, leaving the cast and crews disappointed. In total, 40 series were removed from Disney+ and Hulu, including projects like Willow and Darby and the Dead, some of which were only on the platform for a few months before disappearing.

Despite being a cost-saving measure, many people are questioning how it benefits Disney financially. Since shows and movies that have already premiered cannot be used as tax write-offs, it appears that the primary reason for the savings is the studio's decision to stop paying residuals to workers for content that is no longer available on its platforms. However, given the current WGA strike, this move is likely to be met with criticism for avoiding the payment of already low residuals. To make matters worse, the social media post by the star of "The One and Only Ivan" underscores the personal toll these removals are taking on cast and crew members who see their hard work disappear too quickly.

Source: Bryan Cranston/Instagram