Long touted as part of Marvel‘s cinematic plans, it now appears ‘The Inhumans‘ plans are bound to the television screens instead… with the exception of its opener which will debut IMAX-style…
Marvel Television and the Disney/ABC Television Group surprised quite a lot of people this evening with the announcement of a new television series,The Inhumans, which will debut in 2017.
With Agent Carter cancelled and renewal options for Agents of SHIELD beyond its latest run still unsure, the announcement comes at a time when Marvel‘s biggest small-screen successes seem more suitable to ‘edgier’ outlets such as Netflix (home of the mini-series for Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and the upcoming Iron Fist, The Defenders and The Punisher).
The Inhumans series will also claim a first with the first two episodes being launched ahead of the series run proper and playing on selected IMAX screens in cinemas for a two week window before the on-screen launch in September 2017. IMAX has co-funded the project and those first episodes will be filmed entirely with IMAX digital cameras The series will follow with special additional material filmed for television.
The Inhumans were due to be part of Marvel‘s cinematic universe but that project has been put back and back through 2019 and beyond and now appears to be off the schedule – though it’s not clear if the tv move entirely negates that forever. The concept of the Inhumans dates all the way back to the early days of Marvel Comics. Stan Lee and the oft-overlooked Jack Kirby created them in 1965, detailing a race of super-powered characters who were a different strain of humanoid-like people who could be seen as enemies or friends depending on what alliances were needed. In recent years the Inhumans moved to a more prominent place in Marvel Comics, arguably due to behind-the-scenes situations with movie and television rights for the company’s more high profile characters. In both the comics and the Agents of SHIELD television series, the ‘Terrigen Mist’s that ignite particular genes and give the Inhumans powers were released onto the Earth’s surface, to sometimes amazing, sometimes deadly affect.
The tv show, with an eight episode run commitment so far, will explore the relationship not just between Inhumans and humanity but also the characters of the ever-silent Black Bolt and the ‘royal family’ who have featured for so many years in comics continuity but, as yet, not appeared on screen.
“This unprecedented alliance represents a bold, innovative approach to launching great TV content for a worldwide audience,” said Ben Sherwood, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC Television Group in a statement. “It highlights Disney/ABC’s unrelenting commitment to finding new and creative ways to showcasing our very best programming and increasing global engagement and reach.”
“This first-of-its-kind multi-platform production, distribution and marketing agreement brings together Marvel Television’s unique brand of entertainment, ABC’s unparalleled audience and IMAX’s brand and global fanboy demographic,” said IMAX CEO, Rich Gelfond. “It also takes our decades-long relationship with The Walt Disney Company to a whole new level, jointly breaking new ground in the industry. We are confident our exhibition partners will be excited to work with us on this innovative launch of a series across the IMAX network.”
