Read this: How the O.J. Simpson trial helped vanquish Disney’s Gargoyles

One of Disney+’s major selling points upon launch (aside from owning pretty much every major IP in the goddamn world), was its massive back catalog of films and shows, many of which were previously difficult to find. For a lot of 90’s kids, one of the streamer’s biggest surprises was the inclusion of Gargoyles, the cult classic animated series now widely considered very much ahead of its time in terms of world-building, minority character representation, and narrative storytelling. Many of our favorite subsequent cartoons’ more mature tones and long-form story arcs are owed to Gargoyles’ trailblazing, even though it only lasted three seasons (the final of which isn’t even considered canon by most).

The show’s early success led to plans for an extended universe of shows and films in the vein of Marvel’s current strategy, but it all crumbled. The reason? The O.J. Simpson trial.