Marvel Is Developing THE INHUMANS as a TV Series with Black Bolt and the Royal Family
Marvel has officially announced that The Inhumans will be developed as a TV series for ABC. The studio is also planning to premiere the first two episodes of the series in IMAX theaters!
Earlier this month, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said that he thought it was happening on television, then said that it could happen as a movie. Well, it looks like it going to be both! It's kind of interesting that pretty much everyone skipped over the television part of that comment and thought maybe he was talking about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but he was actually talking about an actual TV series!
I was really hoping for an actual film, and it would have been cool to see Vin Diesel in the role of Black Bolt, but I don't think that's happening now. We know that Black Blot will be in the series because Marvel announced the series with a big image of the character. He's also one of the most recognizable characters from the team who has Hulk-level strength and powers. Also, when Black Bolt speaks, he creates a huge and destructive shockwave. It was revealed by Marvel Senior Communications Manager Joe Taraborrelli on Twitter that the Inhuman Royal Family will be involved with the series as well.
The Inhuman Royal Family includes Black Bolt, who rules the Inhumans with the help of his royal family including his wife Medusa, whose prehensile hair has superhuman strength. "He is supported by Gorgon, whose cloven hooves can create terrifying controlled shock-waves. Karnak the Shatterer, whose power allows him to see the flaw in anything, logic, matter, even reality itself, and pierce that flaw destroying even things that were thought to be nigh indestructible. Triton, capable of breathing underwater and swimming at superhuman speeds." Then there's Maximus the Mad, who is described as a "genius, inventor, creator, madman, he, when he's had his medication is the technological genius of the royal family. Off his meds, he is just as dangerous to the Inhumans as any other threat with an intimate knowledge of the Royal Family to boot."
It's pretty cool that Marvel is moving forward with The Inhumans, I just hope they do something awesome with it. I just wish it weren't coming to ABC because they will be so limited to what they can do with these characters. This has the potential to be epic, but ABC has never really done anything epic before. I can only hope that it will end up being better than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Here's the official press release with all of the details and statements from the people involved with bringing it to life:
IMAX Corp. (NYSE: IMAX), Marvel Television, a unit of Marvel Entertainment, and Disney|ABC Television Group today announced an innovative agreement to exclusively premiere the new ABC series “Marvel’s The Inhumans” in IMAX commercial theatres, marking the first time a live-action television series has debuted in this manner.
Under the agreement, a version of the first two episodes of Marvel Television’s new series “Marvel’s The Inhumans”--produced in conjunction with ABC Studios and filmed entirely with IMAX digital cameras--will run worldwide exclusively in IMAX for two weeks at the beginning of September 2017. ABC plans to then premiere the weekly series in fall, with additional exclusive content that can only be seen on the network.
The Inhumans, a race of superhumans with diverse and singularly unique powers, were first introduced in Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. Since that time, they have grown in prominence and become some of the most popular and iconic characters in the Marvel Universe. “Marvel’s The Inhumans” will explore the never-before-told epic adventure of Black Bolt and the royal family.
ABC, IMAX and Marvel Television also intend to work together to create a joint marketing and promotion plan for the series across their proprietary media platforms--which would be the first such cross-platform marketing launch of a television series. Today’s agreement also marks IMAX’s first time as a financing participant in a TV pilot and series.
“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. “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.”
“We're happy to see this unique deal come together, working with our partners,” said Dan Buckley, President, Marvel Television, Publishing & Brand. “In an ever-changing world of distribution and consumption, it’s very exciting to be part of a groundbreaking initiative that takes us to the forefront of this evolution.”
This deal also provides audiences with high-quality, compelling entertainment options during what have traditionally been lulls in the summer blockbuster season. These IMAX audiences also tend to have high engagement and positive response to comic book fare.
Are you excited for The Inhumans being adapted as a TV series?