Goosebumps Canceled by Disney+ After Two Seasons — Sony Eyes New Home for the Series

Disney+ has officially canceled the horror anthology Goosebumps after two seasons, with the Season 2 finale now serving as its series finale, according to Decider and Variety.

Series Performance Snapshot

• Debut: The series premiered in October 2023 on Disney+ and Hulu with a serialized format inspired by R.L. Stine’s beloved books.
• Second Season: Titled Goosebumps: The Vanishing, it launched in January 2025.
• Viewer Engagement: The combined total across both seasons amassed approximately 75 million viewing hours in the U.S., with an additional 43 million hours across 16 international markets.

The show’s format evolved between seasons—Season 1 delivered ten episodes released weekly, while Season 2 offered eight episodes dropped all at once. Across both seasons, Goosebumps pulled in strong numbers, amassing approximately 75 million hours viewed in the United States and 43 million hours in 16 international markets.

A Look Back at the Series

Each season drew inspiration from multiple Goosebumps books, weaving together fan-favorite storylines. The first season followed five high school students caught in a decades-old mystery surrounding a teen named Harold Biddle. Season 2 introduced a new set of characters—a pair of fraternal twins living with their recently divorced botanist father—who uncover strange happenings in their new town with the help of friends.

The series featured a rotating cast of notable talent. Season 1 starred Justin Long, Rachael Harris, Zack Morris, Isa Briones, Miles McKenna, Ana Yi Puig, and Will Price. Season 2 brought in David Schwimmer, Ana Ortiz, Jayden Bartels, Sam McCarthy, Elijah M. Cooper, Francesca Noel, and Galilea La Salvia. Behind the scenes, the show was developed by Nicholas Stoller and Rob Letterman, with Hilary Winston serving as showrunner. Original Film’s Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty, along with Scholastic Entertainment’s Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman, also executive produced.

Sony’s Next Move

While Disney+ has closed the book on the series, producer Sony Pictures Television is actively seeking a new platform to continue Goosebumps. According to sources, Sony may also explore new creative directions for the franchise, potentially expanding beyond its two-season run on Disney+.

LGBTQ Representation Debate

The cancellation has also sparked discussion within the entertainment media. Out magazine framed the decision in the context of Disney’s history with LGBTQ-inclusive programming, noting that Goosebumps featured queer representation. They pointed to other Disney+ cancellations such as Willow and The Acolyte, as well as creative changes to the upcoming animated series Win or Lose, as evidence of what they describe as a troubling pattern of sidelining shows with LGBTQ characters or storylines.

There is no evidence that representation was the reason for the cancellation of any of the shows mentioned.

The Legacy of Goosebumps

Published by Scholastic, R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps remains one of the most popular book series in history, with more than 400 million English-language copies in print and translations in 32 languages. The Disney+ series was the latest in a long line of adaptations, following the 1990s anthology TV series and two feature films released in 2015 and 2018.

With its strong performance and a dedicated fan base, Goosebumps could still find new life if Sony secures a deal with another streaming service or network. For now, the fate of the latest adaptation rests on whether a new home can be found.