Ben Sherwood, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney-ABC Television Group, offered in PR speak, “This unprecedented alliance represents a bold, innovative approach to launching great TV content for a worldwide audience. It highlights Disney-ABC’s unrelenting commitment to finding new and creative ways to showcasing our best programming and increasing global engagement and reach.” The idea is that the first two hours of the series will play in IMAX, and then will debut on television with additional footage not shown theatrically.
The Inhumans have become a significant part of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., having been introduced in full force last season. In fact, it was the use of them on the small screen that many believed diminished the possibilities for the big (denied by producer Kevin Feige). At the same time, The Inhumans series is not intended to be a spin-off from S.H.I.E.LD.
Created in 1965 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, The Inhumans are described by Marvel as “a race of superhumans with diverse and singularly unique powers.” The focus of the television series is going to be on the character of Black Bolt and the royal family. He is the ruler of his people, which consists of a race of genetically altered superhumans.
First discussion of an Inhumans film began in 2011, though little more was said until three years when word came out that the script was being written by Joe Robert Cole. Then, in 2014, Marvel Studios announced that the film version would be released in November of 2018, which was later pushed back to July of 2019 before the project was pulled off the schedule in April 2016.
On television, they appeared in 1978 and 1994 animated series based on The Fantastic Four, and more recently in Marvel’s new wave of animated shows, including Hulk And The Agents Of S.M.A.S.H., Ultimate Spider-Man, Guardians Of The Galaxy and Avengers Assemble.
The Inhumans joins an ever-growing roster of Marvel live action series, including S.H.I.E.L.D., Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, as well as the forthcoming Iron Fist, The Defenders, Legion and Runaways. It's too early to tell whether UK audiences will get the full IMAX package, or which channel here will carry the eventual show. But who knows? Maybe it'll follow the MCU's cinematic habit and screen here first...
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