Disney’s Best Animated Series of the 1990s Should Get a Live-Action Remake (And We Were Promised It)

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In the 1990s, Disney’s animated television department surprised audiences with Gargoyles, a dark and fantastical series unlike their usual lighthearted shows. The series, which originally aired for two well-made seasons, told the story of a group of ancient Scottish gargoyles who woke up after being turned to stone for a thousand years, finding themselves in modern Manhattan. Led by the honorable Goliath (voiced by Keith David) and opposed by the cunning billionaire David Xanatos (voiced by Jonathan Frakes), Gargoyles was surprisingly complex for a show aimed at younger viewers. It explored difficult themes, showed real consequences for characters’ actions, and even tackled serious issues like gun violence. By blending historical myths with a modern setting, the show quickly gained a large following and changed what people expected from animated television.

The early episodes of Gargoyles were well-received, but the show faced major problems when it moved to ABC for its third season and was renamed Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles. The original creator, Greg Weisman, lost significant control, and the new writing team abandoned the complex storylines for simple, self-contained episodes. This frustrated longtime viewers and led to the show’s cancellation in 1997. Despite this, Gargoyles remained popular thanks to dedicated fans and a wealth of related products. Weisman later returned to expand the story through official comic books, continuing his original vision and ignoring the events of the problematic third season. Even with a large and devoted fanbase, a promised live-action adaptation of Gargoyles has never materialized.

Will We Ever Get a Live-Action Gargoyles?

Ever since the popular cartoon series first aired, there’s been a desire to bring its flying heroes to life in a live-action movie. As far back as 1995, just a year after the cartoon premiered, Disney tried developing a film, even working with renowned makeup artist Rick Baker on creature designs. However, they decided the movie’s dark tone would be too costly to create, and the project was canceled. In 2011, Disney hired the writers of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra to try again, but it didn’t work out. More recently, in 2018, Academy Award-winning director Jordan Peele proposed his own version, which Disney ultimately rejected.

In late 2023, Disney announced a live-action Gargoyles series for its Disney+ streaming service. The series will be produced by James Wan’s Atomic Monster, with Gary Dauberman as the writer. Dauberman has a strong background in the horror and supernatural genres, having worked on projects like the Annabelle films, both It movies, and the Swamp Thing series, making him a good fit for Gargoyles. He also stated his commitment to maintaining the original 1990s show’s mature themes and dramatic storytelling, which excited fans. As of April 2025, scripts were completed and the project was still in development, though there haven’t been many updates recently.

Everything needed for a great live-action adaptation already exists within the source material. The central idea – a proud warrior culture struggling to find its place in a fearful world, led by a hero who is ironically protecting those who want him gone – is perfect for a serious, high-quality TV drama. The original series was already structured in a way that fits modern streaming, with each season telling one long, connected story instead of being a series of separate episodes. The villains are also well-suited for a live-action format: Xanatos is a complex character with understandable motivations, and Demona has a long, tragic backstory that would be even more powerful on screen. Plus, the New York City setting allows for stunning visuals, with realistic gargoyles soaring above a familiar skyline – something the original cartoon could only hint at. This franchise doesn’t need a reimagining; it just needs to be done well.

Everything needed for a successful live-action Gargoyles series already exists in the original. The way the show was originally structured – with each season telling one continuous story – works perfectly for today’s streaming platforms. The villains, like Xanatos, are complex and nuanced, the kind of characters modern audiences appreciate. Plus, the New York City setting offers a strong visual style that wouldn’t require heavy use of special effects. The main hurdle will be bringing the gargoyles themselves to life in a believable way. However, when it comes to the story, adapting Gargoyles for a new audience should be relatively straightforward.

You can now watch all of Gargoyles – including the often-discussed third season – on Disney+.

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2026-06-03 00:14