Marvel Comes to ABC in Historic (And Desperate?) Move

The entertainment industry has been pretty much completely turned on its head over the past couple of months due to the WGA writers strike and the recent piling on of the SAG-AFTRA actors strike as well. Big studio heads, like Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, have made it clear that they are not willing to negotiate any time soon. The content stalemate is only getting started. So is the unrest between creatives and corporate why Marvel is making a historic content move to network TV?

Credit: Marvel Studios

In a Disney press release over the weekend, Marvel Studios announced that its Disney+ original streaming series Ms. Marvel will air on ABC network television. The entire first season will be broadcast over two weekends in August on the Disney-owned subsidiary network. It is the very first Marvel series to make the jump from exclusive streaming to public network access.

Ms. Marvel follows Marvel Comics’ character Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teenager living in Jersey City, who discovers she has superhuman abilities after passing through some supernatural mist. Suddenly she can stretch, grow, and change her appearance at will. Kamala idolizes superheroes like Captain Marvel and decides to take on the mantle of Ms. Marvel.

Credit: Marvel Studios

With lead actress Iman Vellani, the series explores Kamala Khan‘s journey as she learns to balance her life as a teenager, her Pakistani-American family’s expectations, and her duties as a superhero. It delves into themes of identity, empowerment, and the challenges faced by a young Muslim superhero in today’s world.

The Walt Disney Company plans to air Ms. Marvel to supplement the otherwise bare content schedule slated for the upcoming months plagued by strikes. The first three episodes of the six-episode season will be broadcast Saturday, August 5, from 8:00 to 11:00 pm ET, and the final three will air Saturday, August 12, from 8:00 to 11:00 pm ET.

Credit: Marvel Studios

Airing Ms. Marvel on ABC will also act as marketing for the upcoming Marvel Studios feature film The Marvels. The movie will follow Kamala Khan, Captain Marvel, and Captain Monica Rambeau as their superpowers glitch throughout the galaxy. The film hits theaters on November 10.