Actors Who Have Been Fired By Disney

Disney is known for being family-friendly and holding its employees to high standards. However, over time, several well-known actors and creatives have been fired or left their positions at Disney and its related companies. These decisions usually happen because of disagreements about creative direction, legal problems, or personal issues that don’t align with Disney’s image. Here’s a look at some of the most prominent male performers who have been removed from Disney projects.

Jonathan Majors

The actor was originally planned to be a major villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years to come. However, after a guilty verdict in a domestic violence case, Disney and Marvel Studios quickly ended their relationship with him. He had already played the character Kang in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ and the ‘Loki’ series. Because of his removal, the studio had to completely change its plans for future movies.

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp, known for playing Captain Jack Sparrow in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movies, was removed from the role. This happened following highly publicized legal issues and accusations related to his divorce. Disney said they were aiming for a fresh direction for the popular film series, despite Depp having played the memorable character in five successful movies.

James Gunn

Disney initially fired the director of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ due to past problematic social media posts. This caused a public outcry and the entire main cast wrote a letter supporting him. After months of debate and fan support, Disney changed its mind and brought him back to finish the movie. He successfully completed the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ trilogy and later took on a leadership role with a competing superhero series.

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard originally played Colonel James Rhodes in the first ‘Iron Man’ movie, but he wasn’t asked to return for the sequels. It was reported that disagreements over pay led Disney and Marvel to find a new actor for the part. Don Cheadle then took on the role and has played Rhodes for more than ten years. This recast is remembered as one of the first and most significant changes to the cast in the ‘Iron Man’ series.

Edward Norton

Edward Norton wasn’t asked to reprise his role as the Hulk after the first movie. Marvel Studios explained they wanted an actor who was more willing to collaborate with the team. Mark Ruffalo then took over the role of Bruce Banner, starting with ‘The Avengers,’ and has continued to play him in all following Marvel films. Norton has since talked about disagreements over the creative direction of the character that led to his exit.

Fred Savage

The actor, who rose to fame as a child, was removed from his position as director and executive producer of the new ‘Wonder Years’ series. Disney investigated claims of misconduct on set, and his employment ended soon after the investigation’s results were shared with studio executives. He was a well-known part of the original ‘Wonder Years’ show.

Jake Paul

So, you might remember this guy from ‘Bizaardvark’ on Disney Channel – he was one of the leads for a couple of seasons. Things got a little messy, though. He started getting a lot of bad press for causing trouble around town, and ultimately left the show. They put out a statement saying it was all amicable, a mutual decision, but honestly, it felt like more than that. Now, he’s totally switched gears – he’s pursuing a career as a professional boxer and also making content online. It’s a pretty big change, but good for him for trying something new!

Mitchel Musso

I was a big fan of this actor – I loved him in ‘Hannah Montana’ and ‘Pair of Kings’! It was really disappointing to hear that Disney XD ended up letting him go. Apparently, he got into some legal trouble with a DUI, and it just didn’t fit with Disney’s image. They wrote his character off his main show for the last season, and he also stopped doing voiceovers for their cartoons, which was a bummer.

Thomas Gibson

The star of ‘Criminal Minds’ was let go by ABC Studios following a physical fight on set. Reports say he kicked a writer during a disagreement while filming season twelve. Producers ended his contract to ensure a safe and professional workplace. His character was removed from the show without any goodbye episodes or scenes.

Isaiah Washington

The actor was let go from the popular TV show ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ because of a serious issue that happened behind the scenes. He used an offensive, homophobic slur while arguing with a co-star on set. Even though his character was well-liked, ABC decided not to keep him on the show. Years later, he made a brief appearance in one episode.

Columbus Short

The actor played a key role in the ABC drama ‘Scandal’ for multiple seasons. However, he was let go after facing personal legal problems and accusations of domestic violence. Showrunners decided removing him was the best way to protect the show’s image. His character was then killed off in the season three finale.

Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Dempsey was famous for playing Derek Shepherd on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ for more than ten years. Reports say he was let go because of disagreements with the show’s creator and other people working on the production. His character was unexpectedly killed in a car crash, which surprised and upset many fans. Since then, he’s moved on to other acting jobs and has also started racing cars professionally.

T.J. Miller

Look, I covered the ‘Deadpool’ films from the start, and it was clear Ryan Reynolds was Deadpool. But then Disney bought Fox, and things got complicated. There were some off-screen issues, and ultimately, Disney decided not to bring him back for the third movie. It seemed they were really focused on maintaining a certain image with their talent, and unfortunately, Reynolds’ character didn’t fit that new direction. It’s a shame, honestly, because he really owned that role.

Louis C.K.

After learning about inappropriate past behavior, Disney removed a comedian from the animated series ‘Gravity Falls.’ He had previously voiced a character in multiple episodes. The studio has now replaced his voice with a new actor in all future versions of the show, reflecting a wider movement in the entertainment industry to distance itself from him.

Justin Roiland

Following legal accusations, the actor and creator was removed from the Hulu show ‘Solar Opposites’. Disney and its companies ended all working relationships with him, and he was replaced in the show to keep production on track. This decision mirrored similar actions taken with his other projects.

Armie Hammer

The actor lost roles in multiple projects, including those with Disney and 20th Century Studios. Although he starred in ‘Death on the Nile,’ which came out after accusations against him surfaced, the studio removed him from all publicity and marketing for the film. Since then, he hasn’t been offered any leading roles in major studio productions.

James Remar

During the filming of ‘Aliens’, one of the actors who played Corporal Hicks was let go and replaced by Michael Biehn. He had already shot some scenes before the filmmakers decided to recast the role. The actor later explained that his firing was because he was dealing with personal issues that affected his performance. Today, Disney owns the rights to the film after acquiring the studio.

Brendan Fraser

The actor who starred in the first ‘George of the Jungle’ movie didn’t return for the sequel. It was reported that a dispute over pay led the studio to find someone else for the role. Disney ended up recasting the part for the film, which was released directly to video. This decision marked a significant point in the actor’s relationship with the studio.

Nick Cannon

The host and actor had worked with Disney for years on different shows and events. However, he lost several sponsorships after making controversial statements on a podcast. Although he later repaired relationships with some companies, his standing with Disney was seriously damaged. The studio quickly moved to protect its image from the public backlash.

Drake Bell

For several years, the actor was a key voice actor for Marvel cartoons on Disney XD. However, after some personal and legal problems, he was replaced as the voice of Spider-Man in ‘Ultimate Spider-Man.’ Disney decided to cast a new actor for the character in future cartoons and video games, ending his lengthy association with the network.

Frank Oz

The famous performer and voice actor says he was let go from ‘The Muppets’ because Disney executives didn’t want his particular style or ideas for the characters anymore. While he created some of the most beloved Muppet roles, he hasn’t been involved with the show for quite some time and has publicly expressed his frustration with where the franchise is headed.

Jeffrey Tambor

The actor was on the show ‘Arrested Development’ when Disney took over. After an investigation into his behavior on a different production, he was let go from future projects. Although his past work is still available, the studio has not worked with him on anything new, which aligns with their rules about how people should behave at work.

Mark Salling

The actor was a main cast member on the TV show ‘Glee,’ which is now owned by 20th Century Studios. Following serious criminal accusations, he was effectively removed from the show’s history. Disney, which owns 20th Century Studios, has since limited his appearance in any commemorative content or promotions to protect the show’s reputation and ensure a safe environment for viewers.

Shia LaBeouf

The actor won’t be appearing in the latest ‘Indiana Jones’ movie. Following some personal issues that became public after the fourth film, the studio decided to go in a new direction. His character was removed from the story to allow for new actors. Since then, Disney hasn’t worked with him on any other projects, particularly due to his ongoing legal battles.

Kevin Spacey

Shortly before its release, the actor was removed from the film ‘All the Money in the World.’ The studio completely re-filmed his scenes with a new actor to prevent bad press. The film later became part of Disney when Disney bought 20th Century Fox. This situation is a well-known example of a studio replacing a main actor in a project.

Phil Lord

The director of ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ was removed from the project while it was still being made. Disney and Lucasfilm worried that his tendency to improvise and the overall feel of the movie weren’t quite right. They brought in a different director who was known for a more conventional approach, to make sure the film met their standards. This change remains a significant and much-discussed event for the Star Wars franchise.

Christopher Miller

He and his collaborator were removed from their directing roles on the ‘Star Wars’ prequel because the studio believed his ideas for the character didn’t fit with the overall ‘Star Wars’ brand. They then hired an experienced director to re-film large parts of the movie, a move intended to ensure the costly film would still be successful.

Edgar Wright

The director worked on ‘Ant-Man’ with Marvel Studios for years, but was eventually removed from the project. They disagreed about the story and how it fit into the broader Marvel universe. The studio preferred a director who would follow their established style more closely. Since then, he’s directed several well-received independent films.

Josh Trank

The director was let go from a planned ‘Star Wars’ movie before filming started. Lucasfilm executives had concerns about problems on his last project and decided to end their working relationship to avoid issues with the ‘Star Wars’ franchise. As a result, he will no longer be involved in future projects for the series.

Share your thoughts on these controversial studio decisions in the comments.

2026-02-12 21:19