Disney Plus has reportedly backed out on hosting a series based on a movie about a gay teenager's struggle with his sexuality, with sources claiming the entertainment giant dubbed the material "not family-friendly".
The show is a spinoff from the 2018 film Love, Simon, which follows a closeted gay high school student who fears being outed by a blackmailer. The series was originally named after the film, but will now be released as Love, Victor, to differentiate the titles.
According to Variety, which cites unnamed sources, Disney will no longer stream the series due to the "issues explored in the show" - including alcohol and sexual exploration - which the outlet claims Disney deemed ill-fitting of the "family-friendly content on Disney Plus".
The show will reportedly now move to Hulu, which Disney has majority ownership of. The news was announced in a press release, in which Disney did not comment on the reason for the switch.
"All of us at Disney Plus are incredibly proud of Love, Victor and know the series will be a perfect addition to Hulu's strong slate of young adult programming," said Ricky Strauss, Disney Plus' Content and Marketing president.
The statement said that Hulu's collaboration with Disney meant it had "the unique ability to choose the best home for our original productions".
Ahead of the launch of Disney's streaming service last year, former Disney CEO Bob Iger reportedly told investors: "If they want adult content, they can subscribe to Hulu, and if they want family, there's Disney."
The 10-episode debut season of Love, Victor will air on Hulu in June, which is Pride month in the US.
