Marvel Television Banner Return Explained by Marvel Studios Exec (Exclusive)

It has been over three years since Marvel Studios branched out into the world of television, telling the stories of characters from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a new medium. The grand experiment has evolved in some fascinating ways in the time since, resulting in Internet-breaking projects like WandaVision and Loki, as well as the forming of the Marvel Spotlight banner for more standalone projects like Echo. This week, during Disney’s Upfronts presentation, Marvel Studios unveiled new release dates or windows for its next three live-action shows — Agatha All Along, Daredevil: Born Again, and Ironheart. In the process, these announcements revealed the return of the Marvel Television label, which was previously used as the standalone production company behind projects like Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the “Defendersverse” of shows.

While speaking with ComicBook about the recent Season 1 finale of X-Men ’97, Marvel Studios Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation Brad Winderbaum explained the decision to resurrect the Marvel Television label, and how it could help future projects be more accessible to audiences.

“We want to make sure that Marvel stays an open door for people to come in and explore,” Winderbaum revealed. “On the heels of Endgame, I think there was, maybe, a little bit of an obligation to watch absolutely everything in order to watch anything. As you know, as a comics fan, they’re designed to just pop in, find something that you like, and use that to enter you into the universe, and then you can explore and weave around based on your own preferences. So part of the rebranding of Marvel Studios, Marvel Television, Marvel Animation, even Marvel Spotlight is to, I think, try to tell the audience, ‘You can jump in anywhere. They’re interconnected but they’re not. You don’t have to watch A to enjoy B. You can follow your bliss. You can follow your own preferences and find the thing you want within the tapestry of Marvel.’”

What Is the Next Marvel Television Show?

The next live-action Marvel Television project is expected to be Agatha All Along, which will debut on Disney+ with a two-episode premiere on Wednesday, September 18th. In addition to Kathryn Hahn reprising her WandaVision role of Agatha Harkness, the cast of Agatha All Along will include fellow WandaVision alums Deborah Jo Rupp as Sharon Davis and Emma Caulfield Ford as Sarah Proctor. New cast members will include Joe Locke, Aubrey Plaza, Ali Ahn, Maria Dizzia, Sasheer Zamata, and Patti LuPone. Agatha All Along will be directed by head writer Jac Schaeffer, as well as Gandja Monteiro. Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, and Brad Winderbaum serve as executive producers on the series.

“I know a little bit, but I can’t say anything,” Caulfield told ComicBook in a previous interview. “I can’t tell you what to expect, because that would reveal something. I know little, just enough to keep me in the right zone. I think it’s all going to be really fun. I haven’t seen [Kathryn Hahn] yet. I really love her. She’s just the best, effortlessly cool.”