Disney Quietly Changes ‘Phineas and Ferb’ Character After Nearly 20 Years Amid Legal Issues
Disney’s long-awaited revival of Phineas and Ferb debuted last year – but not everything is the same as it once was.
The hit animated series, which originally premiered in 2007, follows inventive stepbrothers who spend their summer vacation building wild inventions. Beloved for its clever writing and musical numbers, Phineas and Ferb became a global sensation, so any change, especially to a core character, was bound to turn heads.
The first season of the revival (which creator Dan Povenmire has confirmed is technically considered Season 5 of the show) debuted on Disney+ last June.
While fans already knew that David Errigo Jr. was taking over the role of Ferb from Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who also didn’t return to voice the character in Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe (2020), many were shocked to discover that yet another role was recast during the show’s absence.
‘Hannah Montana’ Star Replaced in ‘Phineas and Ferb’
Mitchel Musso – best known for playing the best friend of Miley Cyrus’ Miley Stewart in the Disney Channel staple Hannah Montana – was recast in the role of Jeremy Johnson in the Phineas and Ferb reboot.
They replace Jeremy’s voice in season 5 of phineas and ferb….. he was previously voiced by Mitchell Musso #PhineasandFerbSeason5 #PhineasAndFerb
They replace Jeremy’s voice in season 5 of phineas and ferb….. he was previously voiced by Mitchell Musso #PhineasandFerbSeason5 #PhineasAndFerb pic.twitter.com/yg5wuRqsSX
— Kyle Rich (@kyle42765) June 6, 2025
Jeremy Johnson is the object of Candace Flynn’s (Ashley Tisdale) affections in the series, and the character is often distracted from her mission to catch Phineas and Ferb in their antics by Jeremy’s presence.
While Disney has never addressed the reason behind Musso’s departure, it comes years after the actor’s DUI in 2011. His character was subsequently written out of the sitcom Pair of Kings, while Musso’s hidden camera prank show PrankStars was axed.
“In becoming an adult, I have learned firsthand that stepping up and taking responsibility is the best way to move forward,” Musso said at the time. “I am especially thankful to my family and fans for their unwavering support and encouragement. I am glad to now put this in the past.”
Musso’s relationship with the network wasn’t totally severed by the arrest. He later starred in Milo Murphy’s Law, created by the team behind Phineas and Ferb and set in the same universe. He also voiced Jeremy in Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011) and Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe (2020).
But since those projects debuted, Musso was arrested for a second time.
On August 26, 2023, he was reportedly acting belligerently after hotel staff alleged he had taken a bag of chips from a food market without paying. Police found him visibly intoxicated and discovered multiple outstanding warrants. He was arrested in Rockwall, Texas, but the charges – including public intoxication and theft – were dismissed in November 2023.
Phineas and Ferb returns to Disney+ with its Halloween special on October 7. A Christmas special is slated to follow in December, with another new season and film also in the works.
You mean because of a DUI in an arrest y’all, are changing them around that is hard to believe when Disney is so far, woke and is so far dei, and so far, for chopping off parts off children are sewing things on. And who would think that would even come into play. Man y’all are so far one way and in so far another, it’s just crazy. Ban Disney and fire Bob iger.