Disney+ Axes Goosebumps After Two Seasons, Prompting Outcry Over Another Canceled Queer-Inclusive Series

Disney+ has canceled the teen horror anthology Goosebumps after two seasons, ending the series’ run less than a year after its sophomore season concluded on the platform.

The decision, confirmed in industry trade reporting and cancellation trackers, follows two seasons that adapted R.L. Stine’s beloved franchise into a modern anthology, with a teen ensemble that earned praise from younger audiences, including LGBTQ+ viewers who lauded the show’s inclusive casting and character arcs.

Industry coverage indicates that Goosebumps was not renewed for a third season despite solid engagement, with aggregated reporting citing internal viewership tallies that included both U.S. and international hours viewed.

While Disney+ did not issue a detailed public explanation at the time of reporting, the cancellation arrives amidst ongoing scrutiny of cost-cutting and strategic pivots across major streaming services, where licensing reshuffles and content reductions have become common.

On social platforms, fans expressed disappointment, noting the show’s teen ensemble featured LGBTQ+ talent and resonated with queer and questioning audiences who connected with the themes of identity, friendship, and fear. Public posts compiled by entertainment accounts on Instagram and X highlighted disbelief and frustration at the timing of the news.

Advocates argue that frequent cancellations of queer-inclusive shows can have a chilling effect on representation, particularly in teen-targeted genres where LGBTQ+ visibility helps normalize diverse identities for younger viewers. Media watchdogs and LGBTQ+ journalists have raised similar concerns in recent years as streamers recalibrated their slates, with audience members questioning whether data-driven cuts adequately account for cultural impact beyond raw completion rates.

Goosebumps, which originally premiered in October 2023, brought a contemporary lens to R.L. Stine’s universe through season-length arcs and a rotating mix of characters and stories. Trade records list two seasons airing between 2023 and early 2025 before Disney+ decided to halt further production.

The series’ inclusive casting was part of its appeal: cast lists included performers embraced by LGBTQ+ viewers, and the show’s tone—balancing humor, horror, and adolescent emotion—aligned with a growing appetite for genre storytelling that reflects diverse identities. Although Disney did not frame the cancellation in terms of content or representation, the move adds to a pattern critics say leaves queer-centered or queer-inclusive shows especially vulnerable when platforms tighten budgets.

Entertainment databases and trade roundups have begun cataloging 2025 cancellations across platforms, underscoring a competitive environment where even well-known IP does not guarantee renewal. Goosebumps’ status now sits alongside other high-profile cuts in the year’s “renewed and canceled” trackers.