Disney Plus should save Julie and the Phantoms (but, unfortunately, probably won’t)

From the moment Julie and the Phantoms first debuted on Netflix in September 2020, viewers quickly fell in love with the quirky musical comedy about a young girl who rediscovers her passion for music with some help from a trio of ghostly guys.

In the months that followed the show’s release, Julie and the Phantoms seemed to enjoy a wave of success building both a passionate following in the Fantoms and picking up a variety of awards including three Daytime Emmy Awards including the Emmy for Outstanding Original Song with its moving ballad “Unsaid Emily.”

Between the acclaim the series received and the passionate fan base it developed, one would have thought Julie and the Phantoms would be a shoo-in for renewal. Instead, Netflix decided not to pick the show up for a second season. Unfortunately, more than a year after its debut with creator Kenny Ortega breaking the news to fans via an emotional Instagram post on Dec. 18.

Will Disney Plus save Julie and the Phantoms?

Following the cancellation of Julie and the Phantoms by Netflix, the immediate question on the minds of the show’s loyal fans is whether the series could find life elsewhere perhaps on a competitor streaming service such as Disney Plus. So could Disney Plus ride in on its white horse to save the day?

Unfortunately, at this time, there does not appear to be any interest from Disney Plus in saving Julie and the Phantoms and it seems highly unlikely the steaming service will step in to save the show by ordering a second season — due in large part to a standard clause in the deals for Netflix Originals.

According to a 2019 report from Deadline, there is a standard clause in the deals for Netflix Originals which “prevents the shows from airing elsewhere for a significant period of time.” It is also reported there are deals in place which do not allow series to move to other streaming platforms, thus making it nearly impossible for a show such as Julie and the Phantoms to be saved by Disney Plus.

Given Netflix’s love for saving shows canceled by other networks, it’s a real shame the streamer makes it so difficult for their originals to find life elsewhere as there is no denying Julie and the Phantoms would fit in perfectly on Disney Plus and could have been a perfect companion to the streamer’s other hit musical comedy, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.