Marvel Television Boss Responds to Multiverse Backlash and Teases More MARVEL ZOMBIES
The Multiverse has been one of Marvel’s biggest storytelling swings since it was first introduced in the franchise, but not everyone’s thrilled about how it’s played out.
Between Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans have seen the concept shine, but projects like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and What If...? have sparked plenty of debate about whether Marvel is stretching the idea too thin.
Now, Brad Winderbaum, Marvel’s Executive Producer and Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation, is addressing those criticisms, and teasing what’s next for Marvel Zombies.
“I think one of the valid criticisms of multiverse storytelling is that when you have multiple realities, the stakes diminish. But there's another way to look at it when you have the opportunity [with] something like Marvel Zombies, where actually it raises the stakes quite a bit to be in a pocket universe outside of the MCU.”
He went on to explain that the spinoff allows Marvel to go darker and wilder than usual.
“Where death feels very final, and we don't have to worry about putting the toys back in the toy box unbroken. We can really make a mess.”
That “mess” seems to be part of what fans are enjoying most. Marvel Zombies may have divided critics as it holds a 65% critic score and 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s been a surprise hit for Marvel Animation.
According to The Direct, “Marvel Studios is very pleased with Marvel Zombies’ 5-day opening viewership performance, so much so that Marvel Animation is already considering future Zombies stories to tell on Disney+.”
The site added, “Marvel Zombies’ initial viewership metrics have surpassed Disney and Marvel's internal expectations, and, per sources, the series is shaping up to be one of Marvel Animation's most successful shows to date.”
That success likely means fans haven’t seen the last of this undead corner of the Marvel universe. Social media scooper @MyTimeToShineH has also claimed that a second season is close to being greenlit.
Director Bryan Andrews also weighed in on why Marvel Zombies hits differently than other MCU projects, especially when it comes to stakes.
“You go into someone's franchise movie, and it's like 'You're making it out at the end!' And the filmmakers are doing the best they can to build some tension, so you worry.
“And they do, and that's great. But in [Marvel Zombies], it's just like, no, there's no guarantees for anything. It's a whole different type of viewing experience.”
That lack of safety net is what keeps this series fresh, and makes it an awesome way for Marvel to keep exploring the Multiverse without losing its edge.
With the Multiverse Saga heading toward its climactic chapters in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel Zombies might just prove that the Multiverse still has plenty of life left in it.
Marvel Zombies is now streaming on Disney+.