Cancelled GARGOYLES Reboot Pitch Revealed and It Would’ve Taken the Disney Series in a New Direction
Disney produced a lot of memorable animated series during the 1990s, but few have built the kind of passionate fanbase that Gargoyles still enjoys today.
Decades after the original series ended, fans continue to push for a return, whether through a revival, sequel, or reboot. While the franchise has remained alive through comics and ongoing development efforts for a live-action adaptation, it turns out there was once another attempt to bring the legendary animated series back.
Ciro Nieli, the creator of Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, recently shared artwork and details from a cancelled pitch he developed for Disney Television Animation in 2020. The proposed reboot never moved forward, but the concept offered a fascinating continuation of the original story while staying true to what made the series so beloved in the first place.
According to Nieli, the project wasn’t envisioned as a complete reinvention of the franchise. Instead, it was designed as a direct continuation that respected the mythology and characters fans already knew.
As he explained, the pitch was a “respectful and simple continuation” of the original series. The story would have centered on Canmore, who gains possession of the Grimorium Arcanium and uses its power to put the Gargoyles into another magical slumber while taking control of New York City through a combination of crime lords and monstrous creatures.
The story setup was described as: “Canmore, with the Grimorium Arcanium, casts the Gargoyles back into a deep sleep while he overtakes the 5 Burroughs of NYC with crime lords and monster beasts.”
The reboot would then jump ahead two decades, picking up in 2020. With the city under Canmore’s grip, an older Elisa Maza would become the catalyst for the heroes’ return.
Nieli explained: “25 years later, in 2020, once police commissioner, Elisa Maza, raises the Gargoyles from their spell and the fight to take back the city begins.”
One of the most interesting details involved the visual direction. Nieli wanted the series to maintain the spirit of the original while updating the animation for modern audiences. Rather than radically redesigning the characters, he opted for a cleaner, streamlined approach that would allow for traditional 2D animation.
As he explained: “The art choice was a streamlined look, because I wanted full 2D animation and was reluctant to change the established core aesthetic.”
That wasn’t the only change, though. Nieli also revealed a major update for Goliath that would have added a darker edge to the character’s history. “Unseen here is Goliath had lost his arm and replaced it with a cybernetic one.”
Nieli didn’t offer any details on why Disney ultimately passed on the project, but the timing may tell part of the story. The pitch was being developed during 2020, when the entertainment industry was dealing with the massive disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A number of projects across film, television, and animation were delayed, reworked, or shelved altogether during that period.
Even though this reboot never got off the ground, Disney hasn’t completely abandoned the franchise. The Gargoyles universe continues to expand through comics, and a live-action adaptation remains in development for Disney+.
Last year, showrunner Gary Dauberman discussed the challenges and appeal of bringing the animated classic into live-action, explaining: “I feel like we have the animated series already. The cartoon is so good. It’s so good. That’s what we fell in love with. I think it lends itself to a really cool live-action version.”
He went on to add: “It will be challenging,” Dauberman stated they are “talking to some great people. We are still keeping that darkness to it. I’m excited to see the animated [series] come to life.”
While fans may never get to see Nieli’s animated continuation become a reality, there no doubt doubt that some fans would’ve been exciting to revisit Gargoyles with an older Elisa Maza, a city under siege, and a battle-scarred Goliath sporting a cybernetic arm. Some might’ve hated the idea as well.
For longtime fans still waiting for the franchise's next chapter, this newly revealed pitch offers an intriguing glimpse at what might have been.