Revolutionizing Marvel: Why Disney+ Needs a Complete Overhaul of its Shows

The Big Picture

Marvel Studios is starting over in its approach to its television shows, implementing changes such as shooting pilots and hiring showrunners.

Marvel's small-screen programs have encountered increased criticism and production difficulties, exemplified by Secret Invasion's disappointing reception. The current creative process for Marvel TV shows is flawed, lacking a consistent creative authority overseeing each program and treating episodes as elongated films, impeding effective storytelling.

Earlier this week, news broke that Daredevil: Born Again was going to undergo a major revamp. In an article by The Hollywood Reporter, it was revealed that Marvel Studios is completely changing its approach to its television shows. The previous concept of creating limited-run projects for small-screen Marvel Studios productions, as well as the production methods, are being abandoned. Instead, the studio is implementing two significant changes: shooting pilots for TV shows and hiring showrunners - practices that have been common in the television industry since its inception. Marvel Studios, being one of the largest companies in the world, seems to have stumbled upon this tried-and-true method of producing television as if it were an ancient artifact.

This news follows a string of problems faced by various Marvel Studios shows on Disney+. While the initial wave of small-screen programs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe generated immense hype and viewership, the issues with these productions have become more evident over time. Secret Invasion, which premiered this summer and received negative reviews, suffered from a nightmarish production process, representing the lowest point of this entire endeavor and a clear indication that change was necessary. Well before THR's report on the behind-the-scenes changes, it was undeniable that a complete overhaul was long overdue for Marvel Studios' movies and television.

Where Did the Marvel Studios TV Shows Go Wrong?

The Marvel Studios method of project development has always been producer-driven, focusing on making individual movies succeed in post-production. Many Marvel Cinematic Universe films have undergone last-minute additions or changes to digital backgrounds, resulting in entertaining moments (such as the shawarma scene after the credits in The Avengers) and pushing the boundaries of visual effects. While not foolproof, Phase Three of the Marvel Studios movies had an advantage: a clear narrative end goal (Avengers: Endgame) and collaboration with artists familiar with the company's operations. For example, Anthony and Joe Russo directed three of the 11 Phase Three movies, and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers wrote the MCU Spider-Man movies, as well as Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Although these movies still evolved and adhered to producer demands, they benefited from the involvement of filmmakers and writers who understood the workings of the Marvel machinery. However, when it came to Marvel Studios' television shows, they decided to adopt the same creative approach but with a mostly new set of writers and directors. Additionally, altering a two-hour movie in post-production is different from constantly adjusting six hours of storytelling with specific divisions between installments. The frequent post-production changes that Marvel Studios had become accustomed to with films were not feasible for television.

Marvel Studios' shows like Hawkeye and Moon Knight often failed to capture the essence of a TV show, feeling more like extended movies rather than episodic narratives. This was exemplified by the trend of concluding seasons with elaborate, visually-driven fight scenes that lacked the depth and character development expected in television. Unfortunately, this approach overshadowed the medium's ability to allow characters to breathe and audiences to foster a connection with them over time.

Furthermore, The Hollywood Reporter's article revealed that the Marvel TV shows lacked a consistent creative visionary at the helm of each program. While Marvel movies have maintained a more cohesive creative direction, with single individuals in charge throughout production, the TV shows suffered from a lack of such leadership. This absence of a singular creative figure hindered the shows' ability to deliver a consistently engaging and artistically-driven experience. In comparison, films like Black Panther and the Guardians of the Galaxy series benefited from the distinct artistic imprints of directors like Ryan Coogler and James Gunn, creating emotionally captivating narratives.

In contrast, the Marvel Studios TV shows faced even greater creative challenges, making films like Thor: The Dark World appear less arduous in comparison. Even director Edgar Wright's departure from Ant-Man before filming began pales in comparison to the loss of a director prior to the production of Secret Invasion.

Is There Hope for Marvel's TV Shows?

Image via Disney+

In hindsight, the initial version of the Marvel Studios TV initiative showcases extreme hubris in action. The success of Kevin Feige and other Marvel Studios executives in movies led them to believe they could revolutionize television in a similar manner. However, they failed to adjust their creative process for the world of television or hire showrunners. Instead, they attempted to translate their flawed approach to making major motion pictures into six-hour creative endeavors, a decision that was clearly going to be problematic. Additionally, the attempt to intersect narratives between the movies and the less-viewed streaming shows was always going to pose challenges. Would people truly be excited or even recognize references to Secret Invasion in the next Avengers movie?

Can this troubled operation change course? Perhaps, but it will require drastic changes from Marvel Studios. Many upcoming Marvel shows are already deep into post-production, so it will be years until we can see what a new style of programming will look like in far-off programs like Daredevil: Born Again or Wonder Man. Even then, it feels like acknowledging the flaws in the TV business is just a superficial solution for a much larger problem. Currently, there are promises of dedicated TV show executives and the utilization of showrunners and pilots in future projects. However, it remains uncertain if these upcoming shows will also face the troubled post-production issues that plagued past programs like Secret Invasion and if they will embrace more episodic storytelling.

In 2023, the company is facing a critical situation as it is being questioned for its business practices. This includes the treatment of visual effects artists, the box office disappointment of the film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and the numerous issues arising in Marvel's television projects. While Marvel Studios promises to improve its future TV shows, the decision to replace the original creative team on Daredevil: Born Again and the reported intention to transform the show into something different from a typical legal drama suggests that the company is repeating its past mistakes. Once again, the emphasis seems to be on meeting the demands of producers during production rather than maintaining the original authors and unique creative style. Marvel Studios urgently needs to revamp its approach to producing television shows, but it remains uncertain whether the company is capable of implementing such significant changes.