13 Disney And Nickelodeon TV Shows That Got Canceled Before They Aired
In the competitive world of television, not every show makes it to the screen. For every beloved series, there are several that, despite having promise, never get the chance to shine. Featuring many familiar faces and intriguing premises, these 13 unaired pilots have left many fans wondering what might have been.
An avid film and TV enthusiast named rev has curated an impressive list of Disney and Nickelodeon TV shows that were canceled before they ever saw the light of day. Here are 13 shows from Nick TV and Disney that didn't make the final cut.
1. Arwin’
As a spin-off of the popular “Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” “Arwin’” was set to feature Brian Stepanek reprising his role as the eccentric and lovable janitor, Arwin, joined by a young Selena Gomez, cast as his niece, Alexa. The series promised to explore Arwin's quirky inventions and his relationship with Alexa. However, Disney Channel decided not to pick up the series, but the cancellation inadvertently led to Selena Gomez landing her iconic role in “Wizards of Waverly Place.”
2. Keke & Jamal
Keke Palmer was poised to star in “Keke & Jamal,” a Disney Channel comedy loosely based on her own life and dreams of becoming a star. The show was also to feature Vanessa Hudgens as Camille, a "mean girl." Despite the promising concept and star power, the series never made it past the pilot stage.
3. GibbY
Nickelodeon planned a spin-off of the hit show “iCarly” centered around Gibby, portrayed by Noah Munck. The unaired pilot featured Gibby working at a recreational center, where he would act as a mentor to a group of eccentric middle school students. Although the concept had potential, it never moved forward to a full series.
4. Better Days
Alyson Stoner, known for her role in “That’s So Raven,” was set to star in “Better Days.” This spin-off would follow her character, Ally, a child actress balancing her career and high school life. The show was introduced through a backdoor pilot in an episode of “That’s So Raven,” but it failed to gain traction as a standalone series.
5. The Odd Cousins
Originally intended to star Aly & AJ Michalka, “The Odd Cousins” was a Disney project that later tried to cast Vanessa Hudgens when the sisters were unavailable. The series was about two cousins with contrasting personalities—a sunny cheerleader and an emo grunge girl—learning to coexist.
6. What’s Stevie Thinking?
Selena Gomez was also slated to star in a “Lizzie McGuire” spin-off focusing on Stephanie Sanchez, Miranda’s younger sister, in “What’s Stevie Thinking?”. The show would follow the Sanchez family’s move to Australia for wildlife conservation work. Much like Lizzie, Stevie would've had an animated persona voicing her inner thoughts if it hadn't been canceled.
7. Growing Up and Down
Disney Channel’s “Growing Up and Down” featured Noah Centineo, Raini Rodriguez, and Adam Irigoyen. The premise revolved around two high school students whose parents are magically transformed into teenagers, forcing them to attend high school together.
8. Bus Life
“Bus Life” was set to be an adaptation of a UK series, focusing on the antics of students on a school bus. The cast included Vanessa Hudgens, Jennifer Stone, Moises Arias, Brandon Mychal Smith, and Kayslee Collins. Despite its star-studded lineup and funny premise, the show was never brought to fruition.
9. Gulliver Quinn
This Disney Channel project starred Jon Heder, Sam Adler, Joey Bragg, and Sabrina Carpenter. “Gulliver Quinn” was about a 28-year-old man returning to suburbia after living in a cave with his animal researcher parents since the seventh grade, he then goes back to middle school to graduate. Sadly, the quirky premise did not translate into a greenlit series.
10. Forever Boys
“Forever Boys” was a supernatural pilot starring the boy band “Forever in Your Mind.” The story followed brothers bitten by a vampire in 1957 who reemerged as a band after decades in hiding. Although it had an intriguing premise, the series was never aired.
11. Zombies and Cheerleaders
Starring Maia Mitchell and John DeLuca, “Zombies and Cheerleaders” focused on Addison, a new cheerleader, and a fellow student, secretly a zombie. The show was eventually reworked into the Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES, which found success in that format.
12. Madison High
As a High School Musical spin-off, “Madison High” was to star Alyson Reed reprising her role as Ms. Darbus. The show centered on her new job at a different high school, with G. Hannelius as part of the original cast. Despite the built-in audience from the original movies, the show never aired, and Hannelius went on to star in “Dog with a Blog.”
13. Lizzie McGuire Reboot
Fans of “Lizzie McGuire” were excited for the reboot, which would follow Lizzie and her friends navigating life in their 30s on Disney+. However, creative differences between Hilary Duff and the network led to the project being scrapped, much to the disappointment of long-time fans.
Closing thoughts
These shelved projects serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of television production. While they never graced our screens, they represent a fascinating “what if” in the world of Disney and Nickelodeon programming.
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