Marvel Television

Marvel Television
Division
Industry Television
Genre Superhero
Founded June 28, 2010
Headquarters Burbank, California[1], USA
Key people
 Jeph Loeb, EVP
Dan Buckley, president of the print, animation & digital units[2]
Products Television series
Parent Marvel Studios
(Marvel Entertainment)
Subsidiaries Marvel Animation, Inc.[3]
Website marvel.com/tv

Marvel Television (Marvel TV) is a division of Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment in The Walt Disney Company conglomerate. The division is responsible for live-action and animated (through Marvel Animation) television shows and direct-to-DVD series.[4][5] The division is based at affiliate ABC Studios' location.[1]

Background

Marvel previously licensed a few characters out for TV shows with animated shows being more successful than the live action shows. The Incredible Hulk (1978–82) was Marvel's only successful live action television series, running five seasons. The last TV series, Blade: The Series, was canceled after one season on Spike.[2][6]

Marvel's first live action TV licenses were for Spider-Man with the character in The Electric Company's Spidey Super Stories segments (1974–1977), CBS's The Amazing Spider-Man series (1977–1979) and Toei's tokusatsu style Spider-Man series (1978–1979). The Incredible Hulk also launched in 1977 on CBS. The Amazing Spider-Man pulled in reasonable rating but was canceled in 1979 by CBS as they did not want to be the "comic book" network as they had already had three comic book based show, choosing to stay with The Incredible Hulk, as it had the better ratings.[7]

In 1978, Doctor Strange got a TV movie to act as a pilot similarly to Spider-Man and Hulk. Captain America also starred in two pilots in 1979, Captain America and Captain America II: Death Too Soon. None of these pilots were picked up.[7]

After the end of The Incredible Hulk in 1982, live action Marvel shows did not return until 1988 with The Incredible Hulk Returns, designed as a backdoor pilot for Thor. Additionally, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk acted as a backdoor pilot for Daredevil, and The Death of the Incredible Hulk premiered in 1990.[7]

Three direct pilots were done in the 1990s, Power Pack, Generation X and Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., but none of them were picked up for series. Marvel had better luck in syndicating their properties in the late 1990s and early 2000s with Night Man and Mutant X, each lasting at least two seasons. The latter show triggered a lawsuit by 20th Century Fox, who held the rights to the X-Men. As a follow up to the Blade film series, Blade: The Series was created for cable TV, lasting one season in 2006.[7]

History

On June 28, 2010, Marvel Entertainment announced the start of Marvel Television, Marvel Studios' division, together with the appointment of Jeph Loeb to head up the division as executive vice president, head of television.[5][8] Marvel TV's first show in development in October 2010 was The Incredible Hulk,[9] which was being developed with Guillermo del Toro.[10] In October 2011, ABC Studios has sold a Punisher put-pilot with Fox.[11]

By April 2012, Marvel TV had four shows in development: the Hulk project and AKA Jessica Jones for ABC, Cloak and Dagger for ABC Family, The Punisher for Fox and Mockingbird.[1] Also in April, Marvel TV signed with Creative Artists Agency for live action representation.[1] In May 2012, it was announced that the Hulk project was not ready for the 2012–13 season, and would possibly be for the 2013–2014 season. It was also announced that ABC passed on AKA Jessica Jones.[12]

In July 2012, it was reported that Marvel had again entered into discussions with ABC to do a show set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,[13] and in August 2012, ABC ordered a pilot to be written by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen, and directed by Joss Whedon,[14] that became Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[15] It was officially ordered to series on May 10, 2013.[16]

In September 2013, Deadline reported that Marvel was developing a series inspired by the Agent Carter Marvel One-Shot, featuring Peggy Carter. The report stated the series was looking for a writer, and was one of several series in development at Marvel.[17]

Deadline reported in October 2013, that Marvel TV was rumored to be preparing a package of undeveloped four drama series and a miniseries for a total of 60 episodes to video on demand and cable outlets. Potential candidates included Netflix, Amazon and WGN America.[18] In November 2013, it was announced that Disney and Marvel TV will provide Netflix with live action series, beginning in 2015, featuring Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage, leading up to a miniseries about the Defenders.[19][20] Responding to the Netflix announcement, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that that Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones may appear on film if their shows are successful and that another outlet was chosen as ABC and Disney XD could not handle all Marvel shows.[10] Disney will spend approximately $200 million in financing for the series.[21] The four Netflix shows will be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[22]

It was also revealed in November 2013 that the Hulk project first announced in 2012 had been shelved, with Jeph Loeb saying, when "we saw what Joss Whedon and Mark Ruffalo were creating in The Avengers, that was a better solution."[10]

On May 8, 2014, ABC officially renewed Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for a second season and ordered Marvel's Agent Carter straight to series,[23] which later aired in January 2015.

In early April 2015, two unspecified shows were said to be under development at Marvel TV for ABC, one was a spinoff series from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which was being developed by Bell and writer Paul Zbyszewski and would be based off storylines occurring at the end of the second season, receiving its own pilot rather than a backdoor pilot,[24] and another with writer-producer John Ridley.[25] Adrianne Palicki and Nick Blood, who portray Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter, respectively, on S.H.I.E.L.D, are in discussions to headline the Bell and Zbyszewski developed spinoff.[26]

Production library

See also: Marvel Animation for animated production library
Series Aired Episodes Production
partner		 Original
network
Ongoing
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 2013-[16] 44[27] ABC Studios
Mutant Enemy[28]		 ABC
Agent Carter[29][23] 2015- 8[30] ABC Studios
F&B Fazekas & Butters
Daredevil 2015- 13 ABC Studios
DeKnight Prods.
Goddard Textiles		 Netflix[19]
Upcoming TV shows
A.K.A. Jessica Jones 2015 13 ABC Studios Netflix[19]
Luke Cage 2016
Iron Fist TBA
The Defenders TBA 4-8[31]
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff series[24] In development ABC
Untitled John Ridley-developed show[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Andreeva, Nellie (April 11, 2012). "CAA Signs Marvel Television". Deadline.com. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 George, Richard (June 28, 2010). "Marvel Creates New TV Division". IGN. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Marvel Animation Entity Information. Corporation & Business Entity Database. Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code. New York State Department of State. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  4. ↑ "MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT Appoints JEPH LOEB To EVP, HEAD OF TV". Newsarama.com. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Phegley, Kiel (2 July 2010). "Jeph Loeb Talks Marvel TV". comicbookresources.com. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  6. ↑ Lang, Brent (June 28, 2010). "Marvel Launches TV Division". The Wrap. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Goldman, Eric (September 20, 2013). "Before Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Marvel's TV History, From Spider-Man to Blade". IGN. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  8. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 28, 2010). "Marvel Entertainment Launches TV Division". Deadline.com. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (October 14, 2010). "ABC Developing ‘Incredible Hulk’ Series". Deadline.com. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Graser, Marc (November 7, 2013). "Why Disney Chose to Put Marvel’s New TV Shows on Netflix". Variety. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  11. ↑ Wallenstein, Andrew; Jon Weisman (October 20, 2011). "ABC Studios sells scripts tapping music and Marvel". Variety. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  12. ↑ Molloy, Tim (May 15, 2012). "'Hulk' Series Possible for ABC in 2013–14". The Wrap.com. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  13. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 27, 2012). "ABC And Marvel Eying 'Avengers'-Themed TV Series". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 28, 2012). "ABC Greenlights ‘S.H.I.E.L.D’ Marvel Pilot, Joss Whedon To Co-Write & Possibly Direct". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D". ABC Studios. April 6, 2013. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Andreeva, Nellie (May 10, 2013). "ABC Picks Up Marvel/Joss Wheden’s ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ To Series". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  17. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 18, 2013). "Marvel Developing ‘Agent Carter’ TV Series". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  18. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (October 14, 2013). "Marvel Preps 60-Episode Package Of Four Series & A Mini For VOD & Cable Networks". Deadline.com. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Lieberman, David (November 7, 2013). "Disney To Provide Netflix With Four Series Based On Marvel Characters". Deadline.com. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  20. ↑ Spangler, Todd (7 November 2013). "Netflix Orders Four Marvel Live-Action Series". Variety. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  21. ↑ Spangler, Todd (26 February 2014). "Disney to Spend $200 Mil on Marvel Series for Netflix Set to Film in New York". Variety. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  22. ↑ Blackmon, Joe (April 27, 2014). "Marvel Netflix Series Part Of Marvel Cinematic Universe, Available For Binge Watching According To Joe Quesada". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014}. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Hibberd, James (May 8, 2014). "ABC renews 'SHIELD' plus orders 'Captain America' spin-off". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Hibberd, James (April 9, 2015). "Marvel developing Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff for ABC -- exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Hibberd, James (April 17, 2015). "Marvel teaming with John Ridley for mysterious superhero project". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  26. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (April 20, 2015). "Adrianne Palicki & Nick Blood Eyed To Topline ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Spinoff". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  27. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie. "ABC’s ‘Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Gets Full-Season Pickup". PMC. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  28. ↑ Lowry, Brian (August 4, 2013). "Review: "Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD"". Variety. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  29. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 17, 2014). "Tara Butters & Michele Fazekas Shepherding ‘Agent Carter’ For ABC & Marvel". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  30. ↑ Hughes, Jason (May 16, 2014). "Hayley Atwell Reveals ‘Marvel's Agent Carter’ Will Have 8-Episode Run on ABC (Video)". The Wrap. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  31. ↑ Zakarin, Jordan (February 26, 2014). "Disney to Film Marvel Netflix Series in NYC, Gov. Cuomo, Bob Iger to Announce". The Wrap. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.

External links