Plans for a live-action reboot of the 1990s animated series Gargoyles for Disney Plus have been canceled, according to series co-creator Greg Weisman. Weisman stated that the project is dead and expressed uncertainty about any future attempts to revive the cult classic.
Gargoyles originally aired from 1994 to 1996, distinguishing itself among children's animation of the era with its sophisticated characters and serialized storytelling. The show centered on a group of nocturnal guardians who transformed to stone during daylight hours. The narrative kicked off with a five-part story arc introducing the characters and their eventual emergence in modern-day Manhattan, orchestrated by the eccentric billionaire David Xanatos who had a Scottish castle reconstructed atop a skyscraper.
While other animated series from that period have seen continuations, such as Batman: The Animated Series receiving a spiritual successor in Batman: Caped Crusader and X-Men: The Animated Series continuing as X-Men ‘97, Gargoyles has not had a television return until now. This most recent reboot attempt reportedly did not involve Weisman or the original creative team. Sources suggest it would have shifted the narrative focus, casting Goliath as the sole surviving gargoyle attempting to unravel his past alongside NYPD detective Elisa Maza, steering the series towards a supernatural police procedural rather than the genre-bending, Shakespearean drama that defined the original.
The cancellation follows a broader trend of Disney scaling back its streaming ambitions, with previous projects like a Buffy The Vampire Slayer reboot also being scrapped and the Wonder Man series reportedly canceled after one season. However, a potential glimmer of hope for Gargoyles fans emerged when Brent Spiner, a voice actor from the original series, alluded to a new animated series being in development during a recent podcast appearance with fellow Star Trek: The Next Generation alum Jonathan Frakes.