Disney+ just removed a beloved MCU show which ran for three seasons.
The streamer recently underwent its first content purge, with several major movies and shows, including some Disney+ originals, having been axed from the service.
MCU documentary series MPower and Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever were originally set for removal, but ultimately ended up sticking around while Marvel’s Project Hero was, unfortunately, cut.
Disney+ Removes Marvel’s Runaways Show
The MCU’s Runaways series which was developed for Hulu under Marvel Television has been removed from both its original streamer and Disney+.
The removal comes amid Disney+’s content purge of a number of movies and shows. However, this particular removal comes as a great surprise as it was absent from Deadline’s published list of movies and shows set to be removed.
The only other Marvel project seemingly removed as part of the Friday, May 26 purge was Project Hero, a documentary series spotlighting young people making a positive impact in their communities.
Runaways ran for three seasons on Hulu between 2017 and 2019 and was beloved by many, currently sitting with an 84% critic rating and 69% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
As Runaways never received a physical release, options to view the series have become limited after its streaming removal. However, episodes of the Marvel show can still be purchased on select digital platforms at this time.
Runaways saw six teenagers discover their parents’ supervillain identities, forcing them to unite to stop their nefarious schemes.
Does Runaways’ Removal Signal an MCU Reboot?
Runaways never directly had any crossover with an MCU project other than Cloak and Dagger, so its canon status remains just as disputed as other Marvel Television projects such as Agents of SHIELD and the Netflix shows.
WandaVision actually presented a canon conflict with Runaways and Agents of SHIELD, as the Darkhold featured in the Disney+ original appeared distinctly different from the one shown off in the two Marvel Television projects.
Nonetheless, the loss of Runaways from every streaming platform with no physical purchase options available will prove disappointing to many, especially those who grew fond of the team of young heroes across their three-season run.
Disney+’s decision to axe the series will leave many thinking it doesn’t belong in the true MCU canon, and if that’s the case, the door is now more open than ever for the team to be rebooted under Marvel Studios in a movie or new series.
The show actually ended on a tantalizing cliffhanger that is doomed to go unresolved forever as that iteration of the Runaways is unlikely to ever return.
Although it’s unclear whether Marvel Studios has plans to use the team again, Runaways member Nico Minoru has been confirmed to appear in the Spider-Man: Freshman Year animated series as one of Peter Parker’s high school friends.
Runaways can still be found for digital purchase on select platforms.
