Secret Invasion Setbacks: New Report Reveals What Went Wrong on Marvel’s Disney+ Series

Some new reports about Secret Invasion‘s setbacks paint a picture of what went wrong for Marvel Studios. It seems like Secret Invasion ended up spiraling out of control because of power struggles between executives, directors and creative forces within Marvel Studios. In The Hollywood Reporter‘s chronicle of what went down, original series writer Kyle Bradstreet was fired when Marvel Studios decided on a different direction. From there, Brian Tucker was brought in to push things along. To direct, Thomas Bezucha and Ali Selim were retained to direct Secret Invasion. However, over the course of Summer 2022, things began to get a bit wonky.

During Secret Invasions production in London, there were reportedly, “weeks of people not getting along and it erupted.” As a result of the dysfunction, Marvel Studios had senior executive Jonathan Schwartz go out to the site and try to smooth things over. Secret Invasion was already a bit over budget and at risk of falling behind schedule. When the fall of 2022 came around, most of the team behind the show had been replaced. Bezucha left the show due to scheduling conflicts. All new producers, unit managers and assistant directors would make it tough to have consistent storytelling. So, quite a bit of chaos behind the scenes.

Marvel Studios Completely Retooling TV Division

Marvel Studios is completely retooling their efforts with Disney+ TV shows. In the same THR piece, Marvel head of streaming, Brad Winderbaum, says that they’re more open to traditional showrunner format and trying to establish some more continuity on the TV side. Things are changing and quickly over at Marvel Studios in wake of the writers strike and actors strikes. 

Winderbaum said when asked about showrunners, “It’s a term we’ve not only grown comfortable with but also learned to embrace… We need executives that are dedicated to this medium, that are going to focus on streaming, focus on television, because they are two different forms.” 

“We’re trying to marry the Marvel culture with the traditional television culture,” Winderbaum would also mention in the piece. “It comes down to, ‘How can we tell stories in television that honor what’s so great about the source material?’”

MCU Slowing Down Phase 5

Kevin Feige was on the record this year that Marvel Studios is slowing down on introducing Marvel TV shows. The executive chatted with EW about the sheer number of projects in Phases 4 and 5. Some commenters have speculated that the streaming environment has made it impossible to keep up with their shows and franchises. (To say nothing of the lasting impact of the global health crisis that continues outside.) It’s been a period of turmoil in a lot of corners and Marvel Studios is looking to regroup around a more unified vision. Season 2’s look like the future of the franchise. 

“I do think one of the powerful aspects of being at Marvel Studios is having these films and shows hit the zeitgeist. It is harder to hit the zeitgeist when there’s so much product out there – and so much ‘content,’ as they say, which is a word that I hate,” Feige chuckled. “But we want Marvel Studios and the MCU projects to really stand out and stand above. So, people will see that as we get further into Phase 5 and 6. The pace at which we’re putting out the Disney+ shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine.”

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