Marvel have had a hell of a time over the last few years, with no sign of stopping. Now, Deadline has word that the company plans on putting together four new TV shows and a VOD mini series – totalling sixty episodes altogether. Both traditional cable networks and digital platforms are vying for interest, which is particularly impressive at such an early stage as there is very little casting information attached and no publicly released information at all.
Given Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s recent full-season order, it makes sense that Marvel wishes to expand even further into the cable and streaming markets. Although the show hasn’t done as well critically as Marvel would perhaps have hoped, there’s certainly an audience for it, one that would stick around for other Marvel properties too.
The company hasn’t officially commented on this news, of course, given their commitment to absolute secrecy, but they have confirmed that they will be developing World War II-based period spy series Agent Carter, a one-shot included on the Iron Man 3 Blu-Ray release, as a potential TV series. Whether of not Agent Carter is included within this 60-episode package currently being pitched to networks is not known.
60 episodes is a hell of a commitment for any network, but it goes to show how hot the Marvel brand is right now. That in this financial climate a package of four series and a VOD mini series could feasibly be pitched, and picked up, speaks volumes of the confidence execs have in Marvel as a company, which they usually deliver on. Usually.
You’ll be hearing more about this in the near future, you mark my words. You mark them good.