When it’s all said and done, Marvel Television, the small-screen division run by Jeph Loeb, felt the snap of Kevin Feige’s powerful fingers. No Infinity Glove needed. The division is reportedly, according to multiple outlets, shutting down.
For some time, the speculation among industry insiders was that the unit was moving toward irrelevancy, given Kevin Feige’s ascendency to Chief Creative Officer of Marvel, and his plans to make Disney+ shows that directly tie in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
According to a story in Variety, layoffs are expected and key staff members will be moved. No more new shows will be developed. However, five shows currently in production will move forward with their seasons.
These shows are the live-action Helstrom, and the animated Howard the Duck, Hit Monkey, Tigra & Dazzler Show, and M.O.D.O.K. — all being produced for Hulu, the latter four expected to crossover in an event called The Offenders.
Hulu Marvel shows have been seen struggling for a moment now, with a Ghost Rider spin-off from Agents of Shield being doused before production, and Tigra & Dazzler Show recently firing its entire writing staff, including its showrunner, over creative differences.
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All of this follows the cancellation of seemingly hit Netflix Marvel shows Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and The Punisher. Although it was somewhat expected after Disney+ was announced.
Two Marvel TV shows still airing — The Runaways and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D — will conclude their series runs with the ending of these seasons.
The Disney+ shows, such as the upcoming Falcon and Winter Soldier, WandaVision and Loki, will tie in with the MCU movies. During CCXP in Brazil recently, Feige said it will be the “first time” that TV shows will “interlink” with the movies, all but snapping into oblivion what little connection the Netflix shows or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D had to the MCU.
There is some talk that Feige is especially interested in reviving Daredevil and Jessica Jones in the MCU with the same actors (Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter respectively) continuing to play the titular characters.
SOURCE: Variety, mcuxchange, Business Insider