The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding on Disney+ in a big way.
In more ways than one, Avengers: Endgame marked the end of an era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film not only served as a send-off for Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), but it also marked the end of a period in which Marvel movies and Marvel TV shows were clearly separated. The movies were made by Marvel Studios, which is overseen by Kevin Feige, and the TV shows were made by Marvel Television, which is run by Jeph Loeb, for the first ten years of the MCU. So, while shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Marvel’s Daredevil attempted to make hints and references to what was happening in the movies, behind the scenes there was little communication between the two teams. Which explains why the movies basically ignored the TV shows.
All of that changed with the launch of Disney+, for which Marvel Studios is developing its own Marvel TV series that will be inextricably linked to the events of the films. Indeed, according to Feige, the MCU’s future is being laid out for the first time using both films and TV shows, as the overall MCU plotline will see the Marvel Disney+ episodes extensively intersecting with what’s happening in the Marvel movies.
We’ve compiled a list of all verified future Marvel TV shows that will be available on Disney+, along with release dates, cast members, and information on how the tale will fit into the wider MCU. In Fall 2019, Feige was elevated to Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment (thus supervising Marvel TV), while Loeb was confirmed as stepping down from Marvel TV, with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. winding up and all other former Marvel TV projects being cancelled.
What if….?
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: August 11th
Cast: Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Josh Brolin as Thanos, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter, Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Neal McDonough as Dum Dum Dugan, Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Taika Waititi as Korg, Toby Jones as Arnim Zola, Djimon Hounsou as Korath, Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster, and Michael Rooker as Yondu
Number of Episodes: 23
What We Know So Far: The first animated new Marvel TV show on Disney+ is an adaptation of the comics run What If…?, which was a series of one-off comics that imagined what would happen if certain scenarios had played out differently. Here, we’ll be seeing how events from the MCU may have played out had the circumstances or outcomes changed a bit. It’s been confirmed that the first story will show what would have happened if Peggy Carter had taken the Super Soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, and what if Loki had wielded Mjolnir instead of Thor. Jeffrey Wright makes his MCU debut as the voice of Uatu/The Watcher and A.C. Bradley (Trollhunters) serves as showrunner while Bryan Andrews (a storyboard artist on various Marvel movies) directs. The series premieres on August 11th on Disney+, with one new episode releasing each week.
Ms. Marvel
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: Late 2021
Cast: Iman Vellani
Number of Episodes: 6
What We Know So Far: This is a TV show based on Ms. Marvel, also known as Kamala Khan, a Marvel Comics character. The protagonist is a teenage Pakistani American girl with shapeshifting talents who learns she is an Inhuman. In the comics, she takes on the role of Ms. Marvel when Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel passed away. Because Kamala Khan will also feature in Captain Marvel 2, Ms. Marvel’s tale will be intertwined with that of Captain Marvel 2.
Ms. Marvel will be led by rookie Iman Vellani, who will debut in September 2020. The programme is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life), Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and Meera Menon, and is produced by Bisha K. Ali (Four Weddings and a Funeral).
Moon Knight
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: 2022
Cast: Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke
Number of Episodes: 6
What We Know So Far: Moon Knight is based on the same-named comic book character and will follow a former criminal who transforms into “The Fist of Kohnshu” and has numerous personalities. Although the project is still in its early stages, Jeremy Slater (The Umbrella Academy, The Exorcist) has been chosen as showrunner and Oscar Isaac has been cast as the titular hero. Mohamed Diab (Cairo 678) and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Synchronic) are directing episodes. The series will debut in 2022.
Hawkeye
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: Late 2021
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Florence Pugh, and Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez
Number of Episodes: 6
What We Know So Far: This limited series will follow Hawkeye after the events of Endgame as he prepares Kate Bishop to take on the mantle of Hawkeye in the comics. Kate Bishop is played by Hailee Steinfeld, who co-stars with Jeremy Renner in the film. The show is directed by Berti & Bertie (Troop Zero) and Rhys Thomas (Documentary Now), with Jonathan Igla (Mad Men) serving as showrunner. A spinoff series focusing on Maya Lopez is already in development.
She-Hulk
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: 2022
Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, Ginger Gonzaga, and Renée Elise Goldsberry
Number of Episodes: 10
What We Know So Far: Not much, but when Kevin Feige first announced the She-Hulk series at D23 he stated, “Bruce Banner is no longer the only Hulk in the MCU,” suggesting that Marvel has big plans for She-Hulk. In the comics, Jennifer Walters is Bruce Banner’s cousin who gains his Hulk powers after receiving a blood transfusion from him. Jessica Gao, who won an Emmy for writing the “Pickle Rick” episode of Rick and Morty, has been selected to serve as showrunner. Taitana Maslany was confirmed as the title character (a lawyer catering primarily to superhero matters) in December 2020, with Marvel also revealing that Mark Ruffalo will appear as Bruce Banner and Tim Roth will reprise his The Incredible Hulk role as the Abomination. Feige has described the show as a half-hour legal comedy, and the first season will consist of 10 episodes.
Secret Invasion
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: TBA
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Olivia Colman, and Emilia Clarke
Number of Episodes: 6
What We Know So Far: In December 2020, Marvel revealed that one of its most iconic comic arcs, Secret Invasion, would be adapted into a limited series. In a scenario that, at least in the comics, saw several renowned superheroes replaced by Skrull lookalikes, Ben Mendelsohn reprises his Captain Marvel role as the Skrull Talos, while Samuel L. Jackson co-stars as Nick Fury. Captain Marvel altered the script, making the Skrulls the compassionate good guys and the Kree, their sworn adversary, the evil guys, and the last time we saw Nick Fury, he was floating in space aboard a giant Skrull ship. As a result, expect this to be a major event. The show’s head writer is Kyle Bradstreet (Mr. Robot), while the villain is Kingsley Ben-Adir.
IronHeart
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: TBA
Cast: Dominique Thorne
Number of Episodes: TBA
What We Know So Far: Marvel made the announcement in December 2020 that it was developing a Disney+ series based on Ironheart, which will tell the story of an engineer who develops the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man himself and then becomes a superhero. Dominique Thorne (If Beale Street Could Talk) will play the title role.
Armor Wars
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: TBA
Cast: Don Cheadle
Number of Episodes: TBA
What We Know So Far: Don Cheadle‘s James Rhodes finally gets to take center stage in Armor Wars. In this story, War Machine will have to put on the suit, reclaim his title, and stop a technocratic, dystopian nightmare when Stark’s technology falls into the wrong hands.
I am Groot
Network: Disney+
Premiere Date: TBA
Cast: TBA
Number of Episodes: TBA
What We Know So Far: Marvel is developing a series of shorts featuring new and unusual characters, anchored by Baby Groot himself. James Gunn will executive produce I Am Groot.
