Bryan Cranston Reacts To His Movie Being Deleted By Disney
Bryan Cranston's The One and Only Ivan will be removed from Disney+, and the actor got emotional over the news, pleading with viewers to watch before it's gone.
Bryan Cranston shared his thoughts after learning that his film, The One and Only Ivan, will be removed from the Disney+ content library. The movie, inspired by the true story of Ivan, the gorilla, is among several items slated to be axed from the streamer by May 26. The Breaking Bad star penned a touching message about the project on social media.
“I heard the news that my film, The One And Only Ivan, is being pulled from Disney+ as early as next week. 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!” Bryan Cranston wrote.
The actor explained that the character he portrayed is a “real life guy” who adopted a baby gorilla and raised him in a Washington state suburb. Bryan Cranston thanked Disney for allowing the project to be made and urged fans to watch the film before it’s gone. “I just know that it will make for really great family time,” he continued. “I promise you’ll be glad you saw it.”
Disney announced that it would be removing content from its streaming platform during a recent earnings call. The move, which is part of a cost-cutting initiative, will also see series like Big Shot, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, and Willow being axed. The One and Only Ivan enjoyed a three-year run on the platform before the content purge.
Although the decision is labeled a cost-saving measure, questions about the financial benefits are questionable. Series and movies that have already premiered cannot be listed as tax write-offs. As such, the immediate savings would come from avoiding residual payments for keeping these projects, like the Bryan Cranston movie, on Disney+.
Given the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, the move will likely attract criticism. Furthermore, these removals are affecting the cast and crews, as evidenced by the heartfelt message from Bryan Cranston. The One and Only Ivan is directed by Thea Sharrock from a script by Mike White.
The movie features the voices of Sam Rockwell as Ivan alongside Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, Brooklynn Prince, Chaka Khan, Ron Funches, Phillipa Soo, and Mike White. The human characters are portrayed by Bryan Cranston, Ramón Rodríguez, and Ariana Greenblatt. The movie debuted on Disney+ in August 2020 and received mixed reviews from critics.
However, the film received nominations from BAFTA and the Academy Awards for its visual effects. Meanwhile, Bryan Cranston has several new projects in the works. He will star in the ensemble casts of Asteroid City and Argylle. The 67-year-old is also working on Everything’s Going to Be Great, directed by Jon S. Baird.
Written by Steven Rogers, the film features Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney, and Jack Champion. The story follows the Smart family, who move from one state to another to perform in regional theater. As they struggle to cope with a painful loss, cope with loss, making their dreams come true proves difficult. Filming is expected to wrap at the end of May.
