Marvel Entertainment is making significant changes to its television strategy, marking its biggest shift since launching on Disney+ in 2021.
Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Television’s head, announced that future shows will follow a more traditional TV format, moving away from the limited series model that defined shows like WandaVision.
“Moving forward our priorities have shifted,” said Winderbaum in a recent interview. “We’re making shows that can exist as annual releases, more like television.”
This new approach represents a fundamental change in how Marvel develops and produces its TV content, with a clear focus on sustainability and long-term storytelling.
The new development process will be more selective and thorough. Shows will only receive approval if they demonstrate potential for multiple seasons, a stark contrast to the previous model of using TV projects primarily to introduce characters and storylines for future movies.
Winderbaum emphasized that while numerous projects are in development, the studio will take a more measured approach to production.
Marvel’s new television strategy will not include traditional pilot episodes, but may involve filming first episodes ahead of full production to allow for creative adjustments. This approach gives the studio flexibility while maintaining its high production standards.
“We may shoot the first episode in advance of the rest of the series so we can pivot if there’s creative changes,” Winderbaum explained.
The upcoming “Daredevil: Born Again,” ordered for 18 episodes, will serve as a test case for this new approach. The show represents Marvel’s commitment to creating sustainable, long-running series rather than limited events. This shift suggests viewers can expect more consistent yearly content with deeper character development and extended storylines.
This strategic change indicates Marvel’s evolution in the streaming era, moving away from using TV shows merely as movie supplements to creating robust, independent television series that can stand on their own while still connecting to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
