Shawn Levy Gives Disappointing Update On “Real Steel” Disney+ Series

Back in 2022, it was revealed that Disney’s 20th Television and 21 Laps were working on a series version of “Real Steel” for Disney+, set in the not-so-distant future where boxing has gone high-tech—2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots have taken over the ring.

It was reported that Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Jacqueline Levine, Susan Montford and Don Murphy, were working on the project, along with Shawn Levy, who has worked with Disney on many projects, including “Free Guy”, “Deadpool & Wolverine” and the upcoming “Star Wars: Starfighter” film.   

It’s been a couple of years since we last got an update on a “Real Steel” Disney+ series, but now we’ve got an update, as during a recent interview with Shawn Levy to promote the final season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things”, he revealed that it looks like the show isn’t moving ahead.

“I have to credit you, Frosty, because you are tenacious. I feel like we’re going to be old men, and you’re still going to be asking me about Real Steel, which I love you for. The status is unclear, and boy, I wish that I felt it was more likely to happen than I’m currently feeling it is.”

The original “Real Steel” film was released in 2011 by Disney’s Touchstone label and pulled in $300 million at the box office.  It starred Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly and Anthony Mackie.  Unfortunately, the original movie isn’t available to stream on Disney+.

Roger’s Take:  As with most projects in development during the pandemic, it seems that a “Real Steel” show for Disney+ isn’t going to happen.  This is likely due to a number of reasons, mainly that many of the projects put in development while Bob Chapek was running Disney seem to have been quietly cancelled or put on the back burner. 

Also, with Disney+ drastically reducing how many originals it makes and how much it spends on them, this show would likely have been expensive to make.  Plus, Shawn Levy has been very busy working on other franchises like Stranger Things, Marvel and Star Wars, so he might not have had the time to invest in this project.  

Would you like to see a “Real Steel” Disney+ series?  Let me know on social media!