Marvel TV is a bit of an unknown quantity. Unlike Marvel Studios, whose focus is completely on the film side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the TV side of things is a bit all over the place, with no real clear direction.
There are the Marvel shows on Netflix, which seem to be operating in a bubble that is sometimes in the MCU, sometimes not. However, they have strong continuity between the series and seem to be carving out their own niche, distinct from everything else. Then you have shows like Hulu’s “Runaways” and Freeform’s “Cloak & Dagger,” which both are doing well enough for their respective networks, but seem to again be completely separate, with a tone and, errr, cheesiness that is all their own, as well. Think CW meets Marvel.
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And finally, you have ABC. The network that is owned by Disney, but still can’t seem to gel with the movies. “Agent Carter” aside (that series is probably the best out of all Marvel TV to date), ABC has desperately tried to keep up with the films and stay relevant, but have continually failed to live up to the success of their big brother movies. Let’s be real, “Inhumans” was a dumpster fire that the network would love everyone to forget, and “Agents of SHIELD’s” best days are behind it.
All that being said, it appears that ABC and Marvel want to give this TV thing another try. With ‘SHIELD’ going into its sixth season (and losing viewers each season), and two canceled series in the rearview mirror, ABC executive Channing Dungey isn’t giving up just yet.
Speaking at a recent TCA event, the executive was asked about Marvel and wants everyone to know that ABC is still deeply involved with its Disney sister company. “In terms of Marvel, we have some things that we are in discussions with them right now that we are in development,” Dungey said (via Deadline). “I’m very excited about it.”
As we’ve detailed above, the Marvel TV track record is spotty, at best. And when you take into consideration that ABC has probably the worst luck so far with the superhero properties, one has to wonder what the network has up its sleeve.