A top Walt Disney Company executive has provided insight into the cancellation of the Star Wars spin-off series The Acolyte, citing its underperformance in relation to its high production costs. Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment co-chairman, discussed the decision in a recent interview with Vulture, explaining that while the company was “happy” with the series’ performance, it didn’t meet the necessary thresholds to justify a second season.
“The cost structure of that title was quite frankly, not where we needed it to be,” Bergman said, referencing the hefty price tag of the show, which was estimated to be around $231 million, or approximately $29 million per episode. This makes the show one of the most expensive in the Disney+ portfolio.
The Acolyte featured a coven of lesbian witches and included a transgender actor in a major role, elements that contributed to its embrace of LGBTQ themes. The show’s focus on inclusivity and gender non-conformity aligns with Disney’s ongoing promotion of diverse narratives, which has sparked both praise and criticism from various audiences.
Despite the show’s ambitious agenda, the financial results did not meet expectations. The cancellation follows mounting criticism of Disney’s ongoing commitment to promoting LGBTQ issues, particularly in content aimed at children. This includes previous controversies surrounding the Baymax series, which featured a transgender character, and the Loki series, where the titular character was revealed to be gender fluid.
Interestingly, Disney also recently removed a transgender storyline from its upcoming Pixar series Win or Lose, hinting at a possible shift in its strategy concerning gender-related content in children’s programming.
