Disney's Freeform channel has ordered 10 half-hour episodes of “Marvel’s New Warriors,” featuring the character of Squirrel Girl, introduced in a 1992 issue of Marvel Super-Heroes. The show is expected to be a comedy/action hybrid.
Former Ain't It Cool contributor Kevin Biegel, co-creator of the ABC sitcom "Cougar Town" and creator of the Fox sitcom "Enlisted," is reportedly nearing a deal to pen the pilot and serve as showrunner.
The order brings to 11 the number of Marvel TV shows airing or ordered to series. “New Warriors” joins ABC’s “Agents of SHIELD” and “The Inhumans,” Netflix’s “Daredevil,” “Jessica Jones,” “Luke Cage,” “Iron Fist,” “The Punisher” and “The Defenders,” FX’s “Legion” and Freeform’s “Cloak and Dagger.” (ABC's "Agent Carter" was cancelled last year.)
In addition, Hulu has ordered to pilot Marvel’s “The Runaways” and the Fox broadcast channel has ordered to pilot its Marvel mutant fugitive project “Gifted” (which features the X-babe Polaris and has nothing to do with the same-titled Chris Evans movie opening tomorrow).
This press release promises “additional cast to be announced,” but I don’t notice any cast announcement to add to.
April 5, 2017‘MARVEL’S NEW WARRIORS’ HEADED TO FREEFORM WITH STRAIGHT-TO-SERIES ORDER
Series Marks First Comedic Live-Action Show for Marvel Television Freeform, Marvel Television and ABC Signature today announced their second project together, “Marvel’s New Warriors,” a new comedic live-action adaptation of the popular Marvel comic featuring young adult heroes. This marks Marvel’s first foray into comedy for a television series. The network has ordered ten 30-minute episodes slated to debut in 2018.
“Marvel’s New Warriors” is about six young people with powers living and working together. With powers and abilities on the opposite end of the spectrum of The Avengers, the New Warriors want to make a difference in the world ... even if the world isn't ready. Not quite super, not yet heroes, “Marvel’s New Warriors” is about that time in your life when you first enter adulthood and feel like you can do everything and nothing at once – except in this world, bad guys can be as terrifying as bad dates.
The series will feature fan-favorite “Squirrel Girl” (Doreen Green) as a totally empowering fan girl—tough, optimistic and a natural leader. Doreen is confident and has the powers of a squirrel … She’s acrobatic, can fight and talk to other squirrels. Her most important trait is that she has faith in people and teaches them to believe in themselves. Additional cast to be announced.
Freeform also has “Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger” underway at the network. “Freeform’s mission is to deliver incredible content to young adults, and Marvel Television seamlessly aligns with that mission – we couldn't be more proud to collaborate with them on ‘Marvel’s New Warriors,’” said Karey Burke, executive vice president, Programming and Development, Freeform.
“’Marvel's New Warriors’ have always been fan favorites, and now particularly with the addition of Squirrel Girl, they are Marvel Television favorites as well,” said Marvel’s head of Television and executive producer Jeph Loeb. “After the amazing experience we've had with Freeform on ‘Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger,’ we can't think of a better place for our young heroes.” The series is co-produced by Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios. Marvel’s Jeph Loeb (“Marvel’s The Punisher,” “Marvel’s The Defenders”), and Jim Chory (“Marvel’s The Punisher,” “Marvel’s The Defenders”) serve as executive producers on the series.
About Freeform
Part of the Disney|ABC Television Group, Freeform connects to audiences and goes beyond entertainment with bold original programming and immersive social engagement. The network delivers a unique mix of quality original and acquired series, plus fan favorite movies and the holiday events "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." The Freeform app is a service that allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on-demand access via a wide array of devices.About Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Television
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. Marvel Television develops and produces some of the world’s most creative and popular live-action and animated programming for broadcast and cable television networks plus digital platforms including a historic deal with NETFLIX. Its portfolio of self-produced series includes “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” for ABC, ”Marvel’s Daredevil,” “Marvel’s Luke Cage,” Emmy ® and Peabody ® Award-winning “Marvel’s Jessica Jones,” “Marvel’s Iron Fist” for NETFLIX and “Marvel’s Avengers” and “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy” for Disney XD. Marvel is a co-producer on “Legion” (FX). Marvel Television’s upcoming projects include “Marvel’s The Defenders” for NETFLIX as well as “Marvel’s The Punisher” (NETFLIX), “Marvel’s Inhumans” (ABC) “Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger” (Freeform), and “Marvel’s Runaways” (Hulu).
