The Walt Disney Company has had its fair share of problems as of late.
Though the Disney Parks & Resorts continue to boom at a very high level, bringing in billions of dollars of revenue, Disney’s entertainment division has not been quite as successful. The latest two animated films from Disney, Lightyear (2022) and Strange World (2022), were considered box office bombs and, though, the company is having better success with the new live-action Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey that was just released, there is still work to do in turning around the entertainment division as a whole.
Disney+ saw another dip in subscribers in Disney’s latest update surrounding the streaming platform, and the company announced that Hulu would be dissolving later this year, as the streaming platform merges with Disney+. If this weren’t enough, Disney has removed dozens of titles from Disney+ in an effort to save money.
Now, one of the actors in those films is speaking out as his movie “disappears forever.”
Bryan Cranston gained widespread recognition and critical acclaim for his portrayal of Walter White in the television series Breaking Bad (2008-2013). His performance as a high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine manufacturer earned him numerous awards, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Before the popular television show, Cranston was primarily known for his comedic roles. He starred as Hal in the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006), for which he received three Primetime Emmy nominations, and made appearances in several films, including Argo (2012), Godzilla (2014), Trumbo (2015), and The Upside (2017), among others. In addition to acting, Cranston has worked as a voice actor and director. He has lent his voice to several animated films, including Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) and Isle of Dogs (2018). Cranston has also directed episodes of television shows like Breaking Bad and Malcolm in the Middle.
One of Cranston’s latest films was in 2020, when he played the role of Mack in the Disney+ film, The One and Only Ivan. Cranston revealed in a social media post that the movie would be disappearing forever, essentially being canceled by Disney. This is Cranston’s only Disney film.
“I heard the news that my film, The One And Only Ivan is being pulled from @disneyplus as early as next week,” Cranston said on Instagram. “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.”
Though Cranston said he was sad to see the movie leaving the streaming platform, he did state that he was thankful to Disney for “giving us the opportunity to make the movie in the first place.” The film received a 71% rating by critics and a 65% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
