Marvel president Kevin Feige took what Jon Favreau started with Iron Man and created the multi-billion dollar industry known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now it seems Marvel Studios is taking things to another level, as if that were even possible. Multiple reports out of Hollywood tell us that Feige will now oversee live-action Marvel TV, as well.
We already know that Marvel Studios has a slew of new television shows lined up for Disney’s upcoming streaming service, Disney+. Those include Falcon and Winter Soldier, Loki, and She-Hulk, among others. Those shows, however, all stem from, or are considered part of the existing MCU. Marvel TV, however, was a separate entity that gave rise to the likes of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Punisher, and Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. That division will likely now focus primarily on animation.
Marvel Studios take over live-action Marvel TV
The move does seem to make sense, given the success Feige has had with the live-action feature films. As Variety indicates, Feige taking over live-action Marvel TV will elevate those productions to a much higher plateau:
Feige’s shows are so far beyond anything Marvel TV has been able to do. He has access to all of these MCU characters that the other Marvel live-action stuff just doesn’t, not to mention way bigger budgets,”
said Variety’s source.
The source isn’t kidding; we expect budgets for the new Marvel TV shows to hover around the $100 million mark or more. That’s equal to the budget Disney gave Favreau for the first-ever, live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian. I suppose when you’re talking those kinds of dollars, there’s no one else to whom you’d want to open the Marvel bank other than Kevin Feige. But what does it mean for existing, live-action Marvel TV?
Image: Marvel/ABC
Agents of SHIELD will conclude next year with its seventh and final season. Remaining Marvel TV shows under Marvel Television head Jeph Loeb’s control aren’t guaranteed to continue, either. Cloak & Dagger concluded its second season with no official word on a third. Runaways begins its third season on Hulu this fall. The only other is Hulu’s Helstrom, if that even makes it off the ground. Beyond that, Loeb cedes Marvel TV to Feige.
This move could mean great things for Marvel Studios and Marvel TV. Don’t forget: Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will remain in the MCU. Does this move now mean we might see Kingpin, Matt Murdoch, or even Frank Castle cross-overs between Marvel TV and the MCU?
Time will tell, but my Spidey-senses tell me there are good things ahead for Marvel TV. How about you? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Variety
