Produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, Gargoyles only ran from 1994 to 1997 but became a cult classic and remains beloved to this day.
The Spectacular Spider-Man showrunner Greg Weisman is credited as the show's creator alongside producer Frank Paur and designer Greg Guler, and the series has frequently drawn favourable comparisons to other classic animated franchises from the 90s such as Batman: The Animated Series and X-Men: The Animated Series.
It may have wrapped up decades ago, but Gargoyles has remained at the front of many people's minds. It finally received a continuation in 2006 for a three-year comic book run from Dynamite. Still, fans remain eager for a full-blown revival, whether it's another animated series or perhaps even a live-action spin on the property.
In 2023, it was reported that a Gargoyles movie was in the works from Thor and Death on the Nile director Sir Kenneth Branagh. Weisman debunked those claims, though we'd learn months later that Disney+ had tapped Gary Dauberman (Annabelle) to write, showrun, and executive produce a live-action series alongside James Wan and his Atomic Monster banner.
Now, after the streamer scrapped plans for Power Rangers and Wonder Man Season 2, it's been confirmed that the series is no longer moving forward.
In an interview with Comics Online (via Toonado.com), Weisman revealed, "Well, I know the live-action side of it is, uh, the Atomic Monster had the license to develop a live-action Gargoyles for Disney+, and that’s dead. I have no idea about animation, but there are no current plans for live-action."
There have been rumblings about a new animated series, but for now, it seems the franchise will remain on the shelf. As things stand, Disney+ is increasingly becoming more of a catalogue for older Disney content than original titles or new streaming series.
Weisman is also known for his work on the animated series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, but he isn't holding out hope for an X-Men '97-style revival. "It seems unlikely. I wish I could say otherwise, but nothing would make me happier," he shared. "I’d love to be wrong and get another chance to do it."
The cancellation of the live-action Gargoyles series is disappointing, particularly given the talent attached, but the franchise's enduring popularity may mean Disney won't completely write it off just yet.
With Weisman himself clearly eager to revisit the world he helped create, an animated revival could arguably be the perfect way to bring Gargoyles back for a new generation of fans. Until that happens, everyone will have to keep their fingers crossed that these iconic characters eventually get another chance to take flight on screen.