Marvel's INHUMANS Press Panel Turned Out Just as Awkward as The Footage We've Seen From the Series
Over the weekend, Marvel and ABC held a press conference for their upcoming series Inhumans and it ended up being pretty awkward. Just as awkward as the weak footage that we've seen in the trailers for the show.
Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb was getting defensive with the press about the series and even fired back at them at certain points. Actor Anson Mount also commented on feeling like Ben Affleck.
When one of the press members brought up the fact that the show didn't look like it made good use of the IMAX camera technology, Loeb said that it's "simply extraordinary and should be seen on that screen".
Another reporter made a statement before asking their question that the quality of the episode that was screened for critics was “not suitable” for IMAX screens, to which Loeb replied:
“I think you’re making an editorial statement, and I’m wondering what the question is.”
Loeb definitely seemed to be getting annoyed. When asked if the series turned out the way he hoped it would, he responded:
"I can tell you that it was written on the material that you were given that the show that you have seen is not the finished product. If you’re asking me whether or not it was done, it’s not. So to be perfectly honest, I don’t understand your question."
So, with three weeks to go before its release and the press already having seen the first episode, Loeb is saying that they didn't see the finished product? He goes on to say:
"What you’ve seen so far is something that’s unfinished. Once you’ve seen the whole finished product you actually do [understand]."
Will the finished product make everything all better?! Then at one point, Serinda Swan was asked about Medusa's terrible looking hair in the series terrible CGI effects that a lot of fans have been complaining about. She came out on the defensive saying:
"It’s never been done before so there are going to be issues. There are going to be trial and tribulations. I think there was software that actually had to be built with it. If we only did things that were perfect we would never start and so it’s a phenomenal start."
Things continued to get uncomfortable when Anson Mount was asked by a journalist whether The Inhumans was "the show [he] set out to make" and he responded with:
“You’re making me feel like Ben Affleck right now.”
I'm sure you all remember that Ben Affleck meme with his facial expressions in response to a question about the poor reviews for Batman v Superman.
I actually feel kind of bad that the creative team had to go through that. Regardless of how bad it looks, they still put a lot of work and effort into developing this series. They all want it to succeed, but at this point, it might be too late. There's just way too much bad press. At this point, the only thing that can save the series is if it actually turns out to be good and work of mouth gets around.
Here are some of the Tweets from people in attendance at the press event:
You'll be happy to know that the Inhumans panel is just as uncomfortable as the Inhumans pilot. #TCA17
— Libby Hill (@midwestspitfire) August 6, 2017
That #Inhumans panel was like a live table read on #CurbYourEnthusiasm
— Tim Goodman (@BastardMachine) August 6, 2017
The odd thing about Marvel people is they seem eternally surprised that some critics think their ABC shows are terrible. Which they are.
— Robert Bianco (@BiancoRobert) August 6, 2017
A smart, well-framed question from @Deggans gets pushed aside from Loeb with, basically, “We’re Marvel, we do what we do"
— Tim Goodman (@BastardMachine) August 6, 2017
Is it me, or is Jeph Loeb incredibly defensive about questions even slightly critical about the series Marvel’s Inhumans.
— Eric Deggans at NPR (@Deggans) August 6, 2017
I am utterly baffled that there’s no answer from the head of Marvel TV about what this big “Inhumans” IMAX thing will cost VIEWERS.
— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) August 6, 2017
Jeph Loeb has apparently decided it's safer if he asks the questions for the #Inhumans panel. #TCA17
— Ellen Gray (@elgray) August 6, 2017
Artist's rendering of various responses to reasonable, well-stated questions during the Inhumans panel. #TCA17 pic.twitter.com/f1NYOo57qo
— Erik Adams (@ErikMAdams) August 6, 2017
Jeph Loeb says our questions about what’s going on in Inhumans will be answered when we see the whole thing. #TCA17
— Jason Lynch (@jasonlynch) August 6, 2017
about what they thought they were, nobody got it right. I said this to Jeph Loeb, who said he wished he had been there when I did the poll+
— Alan Sepinwall (@sepinwall) August 6, 2017
because he could have explained it. Which isn't ideal, even if he insists we've seen an unfinished product, and final version explains more.
— Alan Sepinwall (@sepinwall) August 6, 2017
ABC is cutting this Inhumans panel off a few minutes early. #TCA17
— Jason Lynch (@jasonlynch) August 6, 2017