Marvel Showing Disney+ Series On Network Television, Are Their Shows In Trouble?
Popular Disney+ series Ms. Marvel made its broadcast television debut on ABC on August 5, with the first three episodes dropping simultaneously. The second half of the six-part series will be released on August 12, NorthJersey.com reports. The move marked the first time a Disney+ original was aired on network television, leaving some to wonder if the streamer was in trouble.
But this doesn’t seem to be the case. Ms. Marvel will reportedly be the first of many streaming titles to grace network television due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. By making a deal with streaming services, networks can bridge the content gap during the fall season as production on regular programming remains at a standstill.
Ms. Marvel will reportedly be the first of many streaming titles to grace network television due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
While Ms. Marvel is set to air on ABC in its entirety, it’s not the first Disney+ series to make its way to network television. ABC previously broadcast the pilot episode of The Mandalorian. NBC brought Peacock’s The Resort to terrestrial television, and CBS is preparing to feature episodes of the Paramount+ series Yellowstone in September.
Ms. Marvel
Derived from the Marvel Comics character, Ms. Marvel was adapted for Disney+ under the creative guidance of Bisha K. Ali. Iman Vellani takes on the role of teenage Captain Marvel fan Kamala Khan, who gains her very own superpowers and becomes Ms. Marvel. The show’s cast also includes Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Laurel Marsden.
Following its June 2022 debut, Ms. Marvel was met with largely positive reviews. Critics praised the show’s inventive visual presentation and Vellani’s acting prowess. While there have been rumors of a second season, Disney+ has yet to officially announce a second outing for Kamala Khan. However, the actress will reprise her role in The Marvels, which hits theaters on November 10.
In the comics, Ms. Marvel refers to the characters who’ve taken on the mantle, but the most prominent iteration is Kamala Khan. She made her first appearance in 2013’s Captain Marvel #14 before debuting as Ms. Marvel in her own 2014 series Ms. Marvel #1. Created by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona, Kamala Khan is an Inhuman who possesses superhuman abilities as a result of exposure to Terrigen mist.
The move marked the first time a Marvel Studios property was aired on network television, leaving some to wonder if the streamer was in trouble.
Kamala Khan’s Ms. Marvel is notable for a few key reasons. She is one of the first major Muslim characters in mainstream superhero comics. Her background as a Pakistani-American and her struggles to balance her cultural identity with her superhero life have been central themes of her story.
Additionally, her Inhuman abilities grant her the power of “embiggening,” allowing her to stretch, enlarge, or shrink parts of her body at will. This power enables her to adapt in various situations, whether for combat or stealth. Kamala’s character arc also explores the challenges of being a teenager, including family, friendships, school, and relationships.
As a result, Ms. Marvel’s popularity extended beyond the comics, leading to her appearance in various animated series, video games, and eventually her live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel.
