Disney+ recently shocked fans by removing a beloved Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) show that had garnered a dedicated following over three seasons.
This move came as part of Disney+’s content purge, which saw the removal of several major movies and shows, including some Disney+ originals.
While titles like the MCU documentary series “MPower” and “Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever” were initially slated for removal but ultimately stayed, Marvel’s “Project Hero” was unfortunately cut. However, the most surprising removal was the popular MCU series “Runaways,” which was originally developed for Hulu under Marvel Television and has now been removed from both platforms.
Disney+’s content purge aimed to remove a number of movies and shows from the streaming service. However, the removal of “Runaways” was unexpected as it was absent from the published list of titles set to be removed.
“Runaways” ran for three seasons on Hulu from 2017 to 2019 and quickly became a fan favorite. It currently holds an 84% critic rating and a 69% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, as the series never received a physical release, options for viewing it have become limited after its streaming removal. However, episodes of the Marvel show can still be purchased on select digital platforms at this time.
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The show follows the story of six teenagers who discover their parents’ supervillain identities, prompting them to unite and thwart their evil plans. While “Runaways” never directly crossed over with any MCU project apart from “Cloak and Dagger,” its canon status remains disputed, much like other Marvel Television projects such as “Agents of SHIELD” and the Netflix shows.
Interestingly, “WandaVision” created a canon conflict with “Runaways” and “Agents of SHIELD” as the Darkhold featured in the Disney+ original appeared different from the one shown in the two Marvel Television projects.
The removal of “Runaways” from all streaming platforms, with no physical purchase options available, will undoubtedly disappoint many fans who grew fond of the team of young heroes throughout the show’s three-season run. This decision by Disney+ might suggest that the series does not belong in the true MCU canon. If that is the case, it opens the door for the team to be rebooted under Marvel Studios in a future movie or new series.
Unfortunately, the unresolved cliffhanger ending of “Runaways” will likely remain unanswered, as it is unlikely that the same iteration of the show will ever return. However, there is hope for fans of the characters as Nico Minoru, a member of the Runaways, has been confirmed to appear in the upcoming animated series “Spider-Man: Freshman Year” as one of Peter Parker’s high school friends.
For now, fans can still purchase digital copies of “Runaways” on select platforms. However, the removal of the show from Disney+ raises questions about its future within the MCU and leaves fans wondering if they will ever see their beloved team of young heroes back in action.
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