After a period of decline, stock of The Walt Disney Company rebounded today on reports of high Disney+ app downloads. At the time of writing, the stock of the media giant is up 1.6% to around $146.02 a share.
Downloads of the Disney+ app have neared 41 million after a very strong Q4, which saw more than 30 million downloads after launch on November 12, 2019. Disney+ grossed over $50 million in the first 30 days, which analysts saw as positive signs for the streaming service.
According to Variety, the creator of “Lizzie McGuire”, Terri Minsky, has stepped away from the project as showrunner after just two episodes.
In lieu of naming a new showrunner, a Disney spokesperson addressed concerns regarding Minsky’s departure:
“Fans have a sentimental attachment to ‘Lizzie McGuire’ and high expectations for a new series. After filming two episodes, we concluded that we need to move in a different creative direction and are putting a new lens on the show.”
Production of the show began in November 2019 and now the project has been placed on hold as Disney searches for a new showrunner. Minsky was both showrunner and executive producer on “Lizzie McGuire” which saw the return of most of the original cast.
Lizzie McGuire was announced at the D23 Expo in August 2019 by Hillary Duff and was a big title for the Disney+ streaming service. There is no word yet on whether this production hiccup will have any impact on the release of the show.
“Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made,” based on the best-selling book of the same name, follows the hilarious exploits of our quirky, deadpan hero, Timmy Failure, who, along with his 1,500-pound polar bear partner Total, operates Total Failure Inc., a Portland detective agency.
“Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made” begins streaming Feb. 7 on Disney+.
Hail to the (future) chief! The Disney+ original series “Diary of a Future President” is set to premiere on the streaming service on Friday, January 17th.
The Disney+ original series, “Diary of a Future President,” from I Can and I Will Productions and CBS Television Studios, will premiere on Friday, January 17. Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin,” “Someone Great”) and Emily Gipson (“Someone Great”) serve as executive producers on the 10-episode series, along with creator Ilana Peña (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”), on whose childhood the show was inspired, showrunner Robin Shorr (“The Carmichael Show”) and Brad Silberling (“Jane the Virgin”).
Told from the narration of her diary, “Diary of a Future President” follows Elena, a Cuban-American 12-year-old girl as she navigates the ups and downs of middle school and begins her journey to become the future president of the United States.
Formerly titled “Diary of a Female President,” the series stars up-and-coming actor Tess Romero (“Blind Spot,” “Alternatino”) who portrays young Elena, an unabashed, ultra-observant, 12-year-old with a strong point of view, who walks through the world with purpose and confidence. Charlie Bushnell, who makes his acting debut in the series, plays Bobby, Elena’s sweet and mischievous older brother. Selenis Leyva (“Orange Is the New Black,” “Murphy Brown,” “Maniac”) stars as Gabi, Elena and Bobby’s sharp and loving mom. Michael Weaver (“Here and Now,” “The Real O’Neals,” “Notes from the Underbelly”) plays Sam, a lawyer at Gabi’s firm who is in the beginnings of a relationship with her. Gina Rodriguez has a guest-starring role as adult Elena, the president of the United States. Rodriguez also directed the first episode of the series.
We also have a new poster for the series, where Elena and her family in some familiar poses.
If you’re one of the many Disney+ subscribers who encountered issues this morning upon attempting to log in or access the content library for the streaming service, you aren’t alone. In fact, thousands of users and subscribers have taken to social media to voice their complaints regarding issues with the app and website.
Despite attempting to log on using a secure connection, many have been repeatedly faced with this error code of Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope stating that there was an issue connecting to the Disney+ service. Other subscribers can’t even seem to log in. Many assumed that the Disney+ website and app would be linked to people’s main Disney accounts, but it appears that some users have had to set up a new login and password just for the service, leading to much confusion.
Even once you manage to get in, trying to reach the home page or content library can lead to other new error codes…
According to reports from CNBC, As of 7:00 a.m. EST, there were roughly 7,300 reports of problems with Disney+, according to Downdetector, a website where users can report problems on apps and websites. If you’re looking to chat with a live support agent, wait times of up to 30 minutes have been reported.
Users from other regions of the United States like Puerto Rico have been receiving error messages that state, “Disney+ is only available in certain regions. Depending on where you are located, you may not be able to access Disney+.” Originally slated to launch with full availability in the United States, the Puerto Rico launch has now been delayed to November 19th. Many users based in Canada have also reported receiving the same error message.
An official statement from Disney claims that the “consumer demand for Disney+ has exceeded our high expectations.” Disney was well aware of the estimated subscriber count and even purchased a majority of ownership in BAMTech Media back in 2017 when the streaming service was initially announced in order to boost their streaming capabilities.
We’ll keep you updated on the status of Disney+ as the remainder of its launch day plays out.