Disney's Love, Simon sequel TV show has gotten an official title (Love, Victor), but will air on Hulu rather than Disney+. Adapted from the novel by Becky Albertalli, 2018's Love, Simon was one of the last projects released under the now-defunct Fox 2000 label (which was closed down following Disney's purchase of Fox's film and TV assets). Directed by Greg Berlanti, the movie starred Nick Robinson as Simon Spier, a closeted gay high school boy who falls in love with an anonymous gay classmate he meets online. Robinson will actually reprise his role for the sequel series, with Simon serving as the show's narrator.
Michael Cimino (Annabelle Comes Home) is starring in the Love, Simon sequel as Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School (the same school Simon attended) who's struggling with his sexual orientation, on top of all the other challenges at home and school that come with being a teenager. The show went into production last summer and was initially slated to premiered on Disney+ sometime this year. However, it has since gained a new home, in addition to an official title.
Variety is reporting the Love, Simon is now titled (appropriately) Love, Victor and will stream on Hulu rather than Disney+. The decision was made after Disney decided the issues explored on the series (including, under-age alcohol use, marital problems, and sexuality) were a better match for Hulu than Disney+'s all ages appropriate brand.
This isn't the first time this has happened; as Variety points out in their report, Disney's High Fidelity series was originally destined for Disney+ before it was similarly moved to Hulu due to its mature content. That's not to say Disney+ is above housing anything but squeaky-clean content, as evidenced by the presence of PG-13 movies and shows like The Simpsons. Even its live-action series The Mandalorian is closer to the PG-13 Disney Star Wars films in terms of violence and themes. Still, when it comes to originals that are not based on a massively popular IP like Star Wars or the MCU, Disney+ has so far steered clear of the PG-13 topics that Love, Simon the book and movie both explore. That's all to say, Love, Victor's move to Hulu doesn't come as a shock.
On the one hand, Love, Victor heading to Hulu may come as comforting news to those who're concerned Disney would water down the issues addressed in Love, Simon in order to make it a stronger match for Disney+. On the other hand, some may (fairly) take this to mean Disney is uncomfortable using Disney+ to offer more meaningful representation for queer people and/or remove the stigma around mature issues like drinking and marital strife. Fortunately, Variety reports Hulu has already set up a writers' room to begin working on ideas for a potential season two, so it doesn't appear the show is being dumped. Hopefully, with Love, Simon writers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger serving as showrunners, the sequel series will ultimately prove to be a forward-thinking continuation of its predecessor, regardless of the Disney-owned platform it streams on.
Love, Victor is due to premiere its ten-episode first season on Hulu in June.
Source: Variety