Disney’s Attempt to Make Mature Content
Prom Pact is avaliable to stream now on Disney+
Hanna Zabski '25
Within the past decade, Disney has made an effort to start discussing more mature topics in their content and display more mature scenes in their films and television shows. With the creation of shows like “Andi Mack”, which featured Disney Channel’s first openly gay character, Disney’s attempt to be more modern and explore topics such as sexuality and puberty has been something many folks thought would never see the light of day from a network like Disney.
Ever since the creation and release of Disney+, Disney’s streaming service, the network has used this platform as a space to explore creating more mature content for audiences that no longer watch the Disney Channel. Shows such as “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”, “National Treasure” and “Big Shot” all follow high school and college kids as they navigate their lives and what it means to grow up and become an adult.
On March 31, Disney+ released two pieces of media both targeted towards an older audience: a film titled “Prom Pact" and season two of the streaming service’s show “Doogie Kamealoha M.D.”
“Prom Pact” follows two best friends, Mandy (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and Ben (Milo Manheim) as they navigate the end of their senior year of high school, and the upcoming prom season. This high school romantic comedy aired on Disney Channel on March 30, with a release on Disney+ on March 31. What I did not know prior to the film’s release on Disney+ was that the version of “Prom Pact” airing on Disney Channel was minorly edited, and parts that were deemed inappropriate for the network were cut out and only featured in the version of the film on Disney+.
My main inquiry when hearing about this decision was: what was so bad that it couldn’t be aired on Disney Channel? After watching both versions of the film, I only noticed one major scene that was cut from the Disney Channel version. This scene featured Manheim’s character and a fellow high school student where they briefly implied discussions about sex and hooking up. Other scenes in the film, such as two boys kissing and the use of the phrase “party virgins” were featured in the Disney Channel version of the film as well as the Disney+ version.
I found this decision to edit out one scene and a few choice words from the film quite confusing. Who exactly is deciding what is deemed appropriate for the network and what is not?
Also on March 31, Disney+ released the second season of their show “Doogie Kamealoha M.D”, which follows Lahela (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) navigate her teenage years as a child genius who is doing her medical residency to become a doctor at the ripe age of 16. The second season followed Lahela as she tried to figure out which specialty she wanted to go into, and of course her romantic endeavors. This season featured many groundbreaking storylines for Disney-made content, such as a queer doctor deciding to specialize in helping people receive gender-affirming surgeries and a whole episode dedicated to discussions surrounding puberty.
As someone who grew up watching Disney content, I think it's incredible that Disney is broadening their horizons and has decided to start making content that deals with more modern-day issues. I think comparing two pieces of media such as “Prom Pact” and “Doogie Kamealoha M.D” is incredibly interesting because if the latter also premiered on Disney Channel and not just Disney+, would some of the more “mature” content also be cut from the program? It’s an interesting question to ponder about.
Another interesting piece of information about “Prom Pact” and “Doogie Kamealoha M.D.” is that both pieces of content feature the same actors. Peyton Elizabeth Lee stars as the main character in both “Prom Pact” and “Doogie”, while Milo Manheim stars in “Prom Pact” and was just introduced as a new character in season 2 of “Doogie Kamealoha M.D.” I definitely think these casting choices were a strategic plan made by Disney, especially considering that both pieces of media were released on the same day and are targeted toward similar audiences.
Odds are, if you liked the two actors in “Prom Pact”, you would be compelled to also watch “Doogie Kamealoha M.D.” Lee and Manheim both do a great job in portraying teenagers who are just trying to deal with the ups and downs of life.
If you are interested in either show, “Prom Pact” and “Doogie Kamealoha M.D.” are both streaming on Disney+!